Finance Act 2003

[F1 Meaning of “dwelling” U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4A inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 35 para. 10 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 35 para. 4

7 (1) This paragraph sets out rules for determining what counts as a dwelling for the purposes of this Schedule. U.K.

(2) A building or part of a building counts as a dwelling if—

(a) it is used or suitable for use as a single dwelling, or

(b) it is in the process of being constructed or adapted for such use.

(3) Land that is, or is to be, occupied or enjoyed with a dwelling as a garden or grounds (including any building or structure on such land) is taken to be part of that dwelling.

(4) Land that subsists, or is to subsist, for the benefit of a dwelling is taken to be part of the dwelling.

(5) The subject-matter of a transaction is also taken to include an interest in a dwelling if—

(a) substantial performance of a contract constitutes the effective date of that transaction by virtue of a relevant deeming provision,

(b) the main subject-matter of the transaction consists of or includes an interest in a building, or a part of a building, that is to be constructed or adapted under the contract for use as a single dwelling, and

(c) construction or adaptation of the building, or part of the building, has not begun by the time the contract is substantially performed.

[F2 (6) In sub-paragraph (5)—

• “contract” includes any agreement;

• “relevant deeming provision” means any of sections 44 to 45A, paragraph 5(1) or (2) of Schedule 2A or paragraph 12A or 19(3) of Schedule 17A.]

(7) A building or part of a building used for a purpose specified in section 116(2) or (3) is not used as a dwelling for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) or (5).

(8) Where a building or part of a building is used for a purpose mentioned in sub-paragraph (7), no account is to be taken for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) of its suitability for any other use.

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 4A para. 7(6) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 7(3) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 (c. 12), s. 7(2)(a)(ii) (with s. 7(4)-(10))

8 (1) The Treasury may by order amend paragraph 7 so as to specify cases where use of a building is to be use of a building as a dwelling for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) or (5) of that paragraph. U.K.

(2) The reference in section 116(8)(a) (power to amend section 116(2) and (3)) to “the purposes of subsection (1)” includes a reference to the purposes of paragraph 7(2) and (5).]