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Housing (Scotland) Act 1988

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Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Scottish Homes

    1. Establishment and functions

      1. 1. Scottish Homes.

      2. 2. General functions of Scottish Homes.

      3. 2A. Sale of Scottish Homes’ loans portfolio.

      4. 3. Dissolution of SSHA and transfer of its property, rights, liabilities and obligations to Scottish Homes.

      5. 4. Regulation of housing associations in Scotland and transfer to Scottish Homes of certain property, rights, liabilities and obligations of Housing Corporation.

    2. Finance and administration

      1. 5. Determination of financial duties of Scottish Homes.

      2. 6. Government grants to Scottish Homes.

      3. 7. Borrowing by and government loans to Scottish Homes.

      4. 8. Guarantees.

      5. 9. Limit on borrowing

      6. 10. Miscellaneous financial directions.

      7. 11. Accounts, annual report of Scottish Homes,

  3. Part II Rented Accommodation

    1. Assured tenancies

      1. 12. Assured tenancies.

      2. 13. Letting of a house together with other land.

      3. 14. Tenant sharing accommodation with persons other than landlord.

      4. 15. Certain sublettings not to exclude any part of sub-lessor’s premises from assured tenancy.

    2. Assured tenancies—security of tenure

      1. 16. Security of tenure

      2. 17. Fixing of terms of statutory assured tenancy.

      3. 18.Orders for possession.

      4. 19.Notice of proceedings for possession.

      5. 19A.Requirement to notify local authority of proceedings for possession

      6. 20. Extended discretion of First-tier Tribunal in possession claims

      7. 21. Special provisions applicable to shared accommodation.

      8. 22. Payment of removal expenses in certain cases.

    3. Assured tenancies—rents and other terms

      1. 23.Limited prohibition on assignation etc. without consent.

      2. 23A.Rent cap controls

      3. 24.Increases of rent under assured tenancies.

      4. 24A.Consideration of notice to increase rent by rent officer

      5. 24B.Right of appeal to First-tier Tribunal against order of rent officer

      6. 24C.First-tier Tribunal’s power to set rent subject to permitted rate

      7. 24D.Withdrawal of referral or appeal

      8. 24E.Landlord application to rent officer to increase rent above permitted rate

      9. 24F.Rent officer’s power to apply rent increase above permitted rate

      10. 24G.Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal

      11. 24H.Withdrawal or dismissal of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal

      12. 24I.Finality of First-tier Tribunal’s decision

      13. 24J.Powers to adjust maximum amount of increased costs by which rent may be increased

      14. 24K.Liability for underpaid rent

      15. 25.Determination of rent by the First-tier Tribunal

      16. 25ZA.Power to modify this Part

      17. 25ZB.Determination of rent payable

      18. 25ZC.Determination of open market rent

      19. 25A.Assured tenancies: transitional provisions

      20. 25B.Determination of rent by the First-tier Tribunal where section 25A applies

      21. 26.Access for repairs.

    4. Assured tenancies—miscellaneous

      1. 27. Prohibition of premiums etc. on assured tenancies.

      2. 28. Effect of termination of tenancy on sub-tenancies which are or are under assured tenancies.

      3. 29. Restriction on diligence.

      4. 30. Duty of landlord under assured tenancy to provide written tenancy document and weekly rent book.

      5. 30A.Duty of landlord to provide certain information

      6. 30B.Duty of landlord to provide certain information: further provision

      7. 31. Right of succession of spouse.

      8. 31A.Succession after the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 comes into force

    5. Short assured tenancies

      1. 32. Short assured tenancies.

      2. 33. Recovery of possession on termination of a short assured tenancy.

      3. 34.Reference of rents under short assured tenancies to the First-tier Tribunal

      4. 35. Disapplication of the First-tier Tribunal’s functions under section 34

    6. Protection from eviction

      1. 36.Damages for unlawful eviction.

      2. 37.The measure of damages.

      3. 38. Further offence of harassment.

      4. 39. Variation of scope of sections 23 and 24 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

      5. 40. Cases excluded from sections 23 and 24 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

    7. Power to repeal sections 33 and 58 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984

      1. 41. Power of Secretary of State to repeal sections 33 and 58 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 and to reduce phasing progressively.

    8. Phasing out of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 and other transitional provisions

      1. 42. New protected tenancies restricted to special cases.

      2. 43. Removal of special regimes for tenancies of housing associations etc.

      3. 44. New “Part VII” contracts limited to transitional cases.

      4. 45. Transfer of existing tenancies.

      5. 46. Statutory tenants: succession.

    9. Phasing out of assured tenancies

      1. 46A.Change to private residential tenancy by agreement

    10. General provisions

      1. 47. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 not to apply to tenancies subject to shared ownership agreements.

      2. 48. First-tier Tribunal: procedure and information powers

      3. 48A. Amounts attributable to services.

      4. 49. Information as to determination of rents.

      5. 50. Powers of local authorities for the purposes of giving information.

      6. 51. Application to Crown.

      7. 52. Saving for common law as to effect of notice of termination upon tacit relocation.

      8. 53.Orders and regulations.

      9. 54. Notice under Part II.

      10. 55. Interpretation of Part II.

  4. Part III Change of Landlord: Secure Tenants

    1. 56. Right conferred by Part III.

    2. 57. Persons by whom right may be exercised.

    3. 58. Application to exercise rights conferred by this Part and offer to sell.

    4. 59. Variation of conditions.

    5. 60. Notice of acceptance.

    6. 61. Refusal of applications.

    7. 62. Reference to Lands Tribunal.

    8. 63. Consent for subsequent disposals.

    9. 64. Extension etc. of relevant periods.

  5. Part IV Miscellaneous and General

    1. 65.“Cost floor” limit on discount on price of house purchased by secure tenant.

    2. 66. Schemes for payments to assist local authority tenants to obtain other accommodation.

    3. 67. Abolition and capitalisation of certain subsidies and contributions.

    4. 68. Abolition of local authority’s power to refer Part VII contracts to the First-tier Tribunal

    5. 69. Exclusion of SSHA, development corporations and co-operative housing associations from rent limitation under Part VI of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

    6. 70. Rent officers: additional functions relating to housing benefit etc.

    7. 71. Power of development corporations to dispose of housing land.

    8. 72. Amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and other enactments and repeals.

    9. 73. Finance.

    10. 74. Short title, commencement and extent.

  6. Housing (Scotland) Act 1988

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      1. Incorporation

        1. 1.Scottish Homes shall be a body corporate and shall have...

      2. Status

        1. 2.Scottish Homes shall be a public body for the purposes...

        2. 3.It shall not— (a) be regarded as a servant or...

      3. Membership

        1. 4.(1) The members of Scottish Homes shall be—

        2. 5.(1) The members of Scottish Homes (other than the chief...

      4. Chairman and Deputy Chairmen

        1. 6.(1) The Secretary of State shall appoint one of the...

      5. Remuneration, Allowances and Pensions

        1. 7.(1) The Secretary of State may pay the chairman, a...

        2. 8.The Secretary of State may . . . determine to...

      6. Staff

        1. 9.The Secretary of State shall, after consultation with the chairman...

        2. 10.(1) Subject to paragraph 11 below, Scottish Homes may appoint...

        3. 11.(1) Scottish Homes shall, not later than such date as...

        4. 12.(1) Where a person becomes an employee of Scottish Homes...

        5. 13.(1) Any dispute as to whether an offer under sub-paragraph...

      7. Proceedings

        1. 14.The quorum of Scottish Homes and the arrangements for its...

        2. 15.(1) A member who is directly or indirectly interested in...

        3. 16.The validity of any proceedings of Scottish Homes shall not...

      8. Committees

        1. 17.(1) For and in connection with the discharge of its...

      9. Execution of Documents

        1. 18.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 19.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Amendments Consequential on Establishing of Scottish Homes and Abolition of SSHA

      1. General

        1. 1.Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, for any...

      2. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 c. 13.

        1. 2.In Schedule 2 (departments and authorities subject to investigation)—

      3. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 c. 24.

        1. 3.In Schedule 1 (offices disqualifying for membership)—

      4. Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 c. 30.

        1. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      5. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 c. 58.

        1. 5.In section 61(1) (interpretation), in the definition of “housing association”,...

      6. Housing Associations Act 1985 c. 69.

        1. 6.In section 1(1) (meaning of “housing association” etc.) at the...

      7. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 c. 26.

        1. 7.. . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 8.For section 23 (compulsory purchase of land by SSHA) there...

        3. 9.In section 61 (secure tenant’s right to purchase)—

        4. 10.In section 194 (grants payable to SSHA and development corporations)—...

        5. 11.Section 196 (advances to SSHA for provision or improvement of...

        6. 12.In section 202(7) (power of Secretary of State to reduce...

        7. 13.In section 216(1) (house loans to tenants exercising right to...

        8. 14.In section 276 (repurchase by authority other than local authority)...

        9. 15.In Schedule 12 (termination of exchequer payments) in paragraph 2,...

      8. Local Government Act 1988 c. 9.

        1. 16.In section 1(1)— (a) after paragraph (j) there shall be...

        2. 17.In Schedule 2, the words “The Scottish Special Housing Association”...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Tenancies which cannot be Assured Tenancies

      1. Tenancies entered into before commencement

        1. 1.A tenancy which is entered into before, or pursuant to...

      2. Tenancies at a low rent

        1. 2.(1) A tenancy under which, at any time after this...

      3. Tenancies of shops

        1. 3.A tenancy to which the Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act...

      4. Licensed premises

        1. 4.A tenancy under which the house consists of or comprises...

      5. Tenancies of agricultural land

        1. 5.(1) A tenancy under which agricultural land, exceeding two acres,...

      6. Tenancies of agricultural holdings

        1. 6.A tenancy under which the house— (a) is on or...

      7. Lettings to students

        1. 7.(1) A tenancy which is granted to a person who...

      8. Holiday lettings

        1. 8.A tenancy the purpose of which is to confer on...

      9. Resident landlords

        1. 9.(1) A tenancy in respect of which the following conditions...

      10. Crown tenancies

        1. 10.A tenancy under which the interest of the landlord belongs...

      11. Local authority and other tenancies

        1. 11.A tenancy under which the interest of the landlord belongs...

      12. Accommodation for offenders

        1. 11A.A tenancy granted, for a term of less than 6...

      13. Accommodation for homeless persons

        1. 11A.A tenancy granted expressly on a temporary basis in the...

      14. Accommodation for asylum-seekers

        1. 11B.A tenancy granted under arrangements for the provision of support...

      15. ...

        1. 11C.A tenancy granted under arrangements for the provision of accommodation...

      16. Shared ownership agreements

        1. 12.A tenancy under a shared ownership agreement within the meaning...

      17. Transitional cases

        1. 13.(1) A protected tenancy within the meaning of the Rent...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      Grounds for Possession of Houses let on Assured Tenancies

      1. Part I Certain grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession

        1. Ground 1

          1. Not later than the beginning of the tenancy the landlord...

        2. Ground 2

          1. The house is subject to a heritable security granted before...

        3. Ground 3

          1. The house is let under a tenancy for a specified...

        4. Ground 4

          1. Where the house is let under a tenancy for a...

        5. Ground 5

          1. The house is held for the purpose of being available...

        6. Ground 6

          1. The landlord who is seeking possession or, where the immediate...

        7. Ground 7

          1. The tenancy has devolved under the will or intestacy of...

          2. For the purposes of this Ground, the acceptance by the...

        8. Ground 8

          1. ...

      2. Part II Further grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession

        1. Ground 9

          1. Suitable alternative accommodation is available for the tenant or will...

        2. Ground 10

          1. The following conditions are fulfilled— (a) the tenant has given...

        3. Ground 11

          1. Whether or not any rent is in arrears on the...

        4. Ground 12

          1. Some rent lawfully due from the tenant—

        5. Ground 13

          1. Any obligation of the tenancy (other than one related to...

        6. Ground 14

          1. The condition of the house or of any of the...

          2. In this Ground, “the common parts” means any part of...

        7. Ground 15

          1. The tenant, a person residing or lodging in the house...

          2. In this Ground “ anti-social ”, in relation to an...

        8. Ground 16

          1. The condition of any furniture provided for use under the...

        9. Ground 17

          1. The house was let to the tenant in consequence of...

          2. For the purposes of this ground, at a time when...

      3. Part III Suitable Alternative Accommodation

        1. 1.For the purposes of Ground 9 above, a certificate of...

        2. 2.Where no such certificate as is mentioned in paragraph 1...

        3. 3.(1) For the purposes of paragraph 2 above, the relevant...

        4. 4.Accommodation shall not be deemed to be suitable to the...

        5. 5.Any document purporting to be a certificate of a local...

        6. 6.Local authorities, development corporations and Scottish Homes may, for the...

        7. 7.In this Part of this Schedule “local authority” means an...

      4. Part IV Notices relating to recovery of Possession

        1. 8.(1) If, not later than the beginning of a tenancy...

        2. 9.Where paragraph 8(1) above has effect in relation to a...

        3. 10.Where paragraph 8(1) above has effect in relation to a...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Statutory or Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession

      1. Part I New Schedules 1A and 1B to Rent (Scotland) Act 1984

        1. 1.After Schedule 1 to the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 there...

      2. Part II Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession—Modification of Enactments

        1. 2.In relation to the assured tenancy to which the person...

        2. 3.(1) In relation to the assured tenancy to which the...

    7. SCHEDULE 7

      Housing (Scotland) Act 1987—Amendments connected with Consolidation

      1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3.In section 114 (closing order) in subsection (5) after the...

      4. 4.In section 129 (appeals) in subsection (1) for “, (3)...

      5. 5.In section 139 (penalty for causing or permitting overcrowding) in...

      6. 6.In section 151 (interpretation of Part VII) in subsection (2)...

      7. 7.In section 173 (warrant to authorise entry) in subsection (5)(a)...

      8. 8.In section 179 (general effect of control order) in subsection...

      9. 9.In section 200 (slum clearance subsidy) in subsection (2) for...

      10. 10.. . . . . . . . . ....

      11. 11.. . . . . . . . . ....

      12. 12.. . . . . . . . . ....

      13. 13.. . . . . . . . . ....

      14. 14.. . . . . . . . . ....

      15. 15.. . . . . . . . . ....

      16. 16.. . . . . . . . . ....

      17. 17.In section 254 (exchequer contributions towards certain grants) in each...

      18. 18.In section 255 (exchequer contributions in respect of amenities) in...

      19. 19.In section 268 (notice of determination) in subsection (4) for...

      20. 20.In section 276 (repurchase by authority other than local authority),...

      21. 21.In section 281 (effect of repurchase on certain existing tenancies)...

      22. 22.In section 282 (grant of tenancy to former owner-occupier) in...

      23. 23.In section 283 (grant of tenancy to former statutory tenant)...

      24. 24.In section 285 (request for tenancy under sections 282 or...

      25. 25.In section 296 (contributions by Secretary of State) in subsection...

      26. 26.In section 299 (jurisdiction of sheriff) in subsection (2)(b) for...

      27. 27.In section 338 (interpretation) in the definition of “standard amenities”...

      28. 28.In Schedule 7 (application of enactments) in paragraph 13—

      29. 29.In Schedule 20 (assistance by way of repurchase) in paragraph...

      30. 30.In Schedule 24 (repeals) in the entry relating to the...

    8. SCHEDULE 8

      Housing (Scotland) Act 1987— Minor Amendments

      1. 1.In section 61 (secure tenant’s right to purchase) after subsection...

      2. 2.In section 62 (price of house being purchased by secure...

      3. 3.In section 151 (interpretation of Part VII) in the definition...

      4. 4.In section 191 (housing support grants: fixing of aggregate amount)...

      5. 5.In section 192 (apportionment of housing support grants) in subsection...

      6. 6.. . . . . . . . . ....

      7. 7.. . . . . . . . . ....

      8. 8.In section 255 (exchequer contributions in respect of amenities) in...

      9. 9.In Schedule 10 (landlord’s repairing obligations)— (a) for paragraph 1(1)...

      10. 10.In Schedule 15 (housing revenue account) in paragraph 9(2) for...

    9. SCHEDULE 9

      Consequential Amendments

      1. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 c. 56.

        1. 1.In section 27(4) (right to home loss payment) after paragraph...

      2. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 c. 65.

        1. 2.In Schedule 28, in paragraph 10 (urban development corporations, displacement...

      3. Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 c. 59.

        1. 3.In section 22 (interpretation) in the definition of “tenant” for...

      4. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 c. 58.

        1. 4.In section 103 (application to sheriff)— (a) in subsection (1)...

        2. 5.In Schedule 1 (statutory tenants by succession) in paragraph 2...

      5. Housing Associations Act 1985 c. 69.

        1. 6.In section 10(2)— (a) in paragraph (b) for the words...

        2. 7.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 8.In section 39, in the definition of “secure tenancy” for...

        4. 9.In section 106(2) for the definition of “shared ownership agreement”...

      6. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 c. 26.

        1. 10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 11.In section 64(7) (circumstances where prohibition of landlord’s option to...

        3. 12.. . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 13.In section 128 (recovery of possession of house to which...

        5. 14.In section 145 (recovery of possession of overcrowded house that...

        6. 15.In section 177 (statutory tenant to be regarded as lessee...

        7. 16.In section 180 (effect of control order), in subsection (4)—...

        8. 17.In section 207 (local authority’s duty to keep slum clearance...

        9. 18.In section 311 (interpretation of sections 308 to 310), in...

        10. 19.In section 328 (duty to inform tenant of assignation of...

        11. 20.In section 338 (interpretation), in subsection (1) in the definition...

        12. 21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    10. SCHEDULE 10

      Repeals

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