Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land

The Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCI) will come into force on 1 April 2022, albeit with a grace period of one year for specified offences.

The register is designed to increase transparency and will show persons and entities (associates) who have significant influence or control over five categories of owner or tenant (of leases longer than twenty years) of land and property in Scotland (recorded persons).

Whilst this is a register which relates to land, the criteria that would create a Recorded Person/Associate relationship include matters beyond those covered by property lawyers. The RCI is therefore relevant more generally for lawyers, and is relevant for other professional advisers.

Registers of Scotland will publish detailed guidance on the RCI on their website on or before 1 April, but in the meantime, the regulations are available online and you can find a brief summary on Registers of Scotland’s website, together with details of their webinar on 24 March which will explore RCI further.