Part 7Supplementary and final provisions

Other general interpretation provisions

262Meaning of “lease”, “tenancy”, “occupier” and “owner” etc.

1

In this Act “lease” and “tenancy” have the same meaning.

2

Both expressions include—

a

a sub-lease or sub-tenancy; and

b

an agreement for a lease or tenancy (or sub-lease or sub-tenancy).

And see sections 108 and 117 and paragraphs 3 and 11 of Schedule 7 (which also extend the meaning of references to leases).

3

The expressions “lessor” and “lessee” and “landlord” and “tenant” and references to letting, to the grant of a lease or to covenants or terms, are to be construed accordingly.

4

In this Act “lessee” includes a statutory tenant of the premises; and references to a lease or to a person to whom premises are let are to be construed accordingly.

5

In this Act any reference to a person who is a tenant under a lease with an unexpired term of 3 years or less includes a statutory tenant as well as a tenant under a yearly or other periodic tenancy.

6

In this Act “occupier”, in relation to premises, means a person who—

a

occupies the premises as a residence, and

b

(subject to the context) so occupies them whether as a tenant or other person having an estate or interest in the premises or as a licensee;

and related expressions are to be construed accordingly.

This subsection F1... has effect subject to any other provision defining “occupier” for any purposes of this Act.

7

In this Act “owner”, in relation to premises—

a

means a person (other than a mortgagee not in possession) who is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple of the premises whether in possession or in reversion; and

b

includes also a person holding or entitled to the rents and profits of the premises under a lease of which the unexpired term exceeds 3 years.

8

In this Act “person having an estate or interest”, in relation to premises, includes a statutory tenant of the premises.

9

In this Act “licence”, in the context of a licence to occupy premises—

a

includes a licence which is not granted for a consideration, but

b

excludes a licence granted as a temporary expedient to a person who entered the premises as a trespasser (whether or not, before the grant of the licence, another licence to occupy those or other premises had been granted to him);

and related expressions are to be construed accordingly.

And see sections 108 and 117 and paragraphs 3 and 11 of Schedule 7 (which also extend the meaning of references to licences).