More transparency on land ownership

People will soon have access to information to enable them to find out who has a controlling interest in Scotland’s land.

As part of its commitment to improve transparency of land ownership, the Scottish Government is introducing a new Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest (RCI) in land tomorrow (April 1).

This public register provides key information about those who ultimately make decisions about the management or use of land, even if they are not necessarily registered as the owner, including overseas entities and trusts.

The information will enable individuals and communities to identify and engage with those who make decisions about land that affects them.

Environment and land reform minister Mairi McAllan said: ‘I want to ensure there can no longer be categories of landowner or tenant where, intentionally or otherwise, control of decision-making is obscured, including in or via overseas trusts or entities.

‘Scotland has a long history of land reform and this journey to make the ownership and use of our land and assets fairer marches on. The new register will make Scotland a frontrunner in Europe and deliver greater transparency than any other part of the UK. It enables the public to look behind land ownership and identify those who ultimately make decisions. We have committed to bring forward a new Land Reform Bill over the course of this parliament which will further tackle Scotland’s historically iniquitous patterns of land ownership and use.’

Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Jennifer Henderson said: ‘The register will bring greater transparency of who makes decisions about the country’s land and property.’

The RCI is a register of people who own, or are tenants of under a long lease of more than 20 years, land, including entities with legal personality. Entries flow from the recorded person, who is obliged to disclose persons who have significant influence or control over decisions in relation to land, known as associates.

Penalties for non-compliance will come into force at the end of a 12-month transition period in April 2023. The register will be operational from tomorrow and free to access.