Rent Act 1977

[F12E+WThe surviving spouse[F2, or surviving civil partner,] (if any) of the original tenant, if residing in the dwelling-house immediately before the death of the original tenant, shall after the death be the statutory tenant if and so long as he or she occupies the dwelling-house as his or her residence.]

[F3(2)For the purposes of this paragraph, a person who was living with the original tenant as if they were a married couple or civil partners is to be treated as the spouse or civil partner of the original tenant.]

(3)If, immediately after the death of the original tenant, there is, by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) above, more than one person who fulfils the conditions in sub-paragraph (1) above, such one of them as may be decided by agreement or, in default of agreement, by the county court [F4shall for the purposes of this paragraph be [F5treated as the tenant’s spouse [F6or civil partner].]]