Rent Act 1977, Paragraph 2 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
[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].]]
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 1 para. 2 substituted by Housing Act 1980 (c. 51, SIF 61), s. 76(1)(4) in relation to deaths occurring after 28.11.1980
F2Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(1) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(2), Sch. 8 para. 13(2); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F3Sch. 1 para. 2(2) substituted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(a)
F4Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(3) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(2), Sch. 8 para. 13(4); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F5Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(3) substituted (13.3.2014) by The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Consequential and Contrary Provisions and Scotland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/560), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 16
F6Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(3) substituted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Sch. 1 para. 2 modified (1.10.1997) by 1996 c. 27, ss. 53, 63(4), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 8(3) (with Sch. 9 paras. 8, 9, 10); S.I. 1997/1892, art. 3(1)(a)
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