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Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025

2025 asp 15 · Enacted 16 December 2025 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 7 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 16 March 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
sch. 2 para. 8(7)applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 10(1)applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 14applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 74applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 75applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 76applied (with modifications) by 1911 c. 49, s. 32(14A) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 79(3)(d)
sch. 2 para. 40applied by 1931 c. 44, s. 14(3) (as inserted)Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 80(2)

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the management and transfer of large holdings of land; to require the Scottish Ministers to make publicly available a model lease for environmental purposes; to modify the law on small landholdings and agricultural holdings; and for connected purposes.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 5th November 2025 and received Royal Assent on 16th December 2025

Contents

  1. Part 1: Land reform
  2. Chapter 1: Large land holdings: Management and transfer of ownership Not yet in force
  3. 1Community-engagement obligations in relation to large land holding Not yet in force
  4. 2Community right to buy: registration of interest in large land holding Not yet in force
  5. 3Modifications in connection with section 2 Not yet in force
  6. 4Lotting of large land holding Not yet in force
  7. 5Modifications in connection with section 4 Not yet in force
  8. 6Modifications in connection with sections 2 and 4 Not yet in force
  9. 7Establishment of the Land and Communities Commissioner Not yet in force
  10. Chapter 2: Functions of the Land Commissioners
  11. 8Functions of the Land Commissioners: natural capital markets
  12. 9Functions of the Land Commissioners: further provisions
  13. Chapter 3: Review of part Not yet in force
  14. 10Review of Part 1 Not yet in force
  15. Part 2: Leasing land
  16. Chapter 1: Model leases
  17. 11Duty to publish model lease for environmental purposes
  18. 12Duty to publish model lease for hutting
  19. Chapter 2: Small landholdings Not yet in force
  20. 13Small landholdings Not yet in force
  21. 14Extension of Tenant Farming Commissioner’s functions Not yet in force
  22. Chapter 3: Agricultural holdings Not yet in force
  23. Tenant’s right to buy Not yet in force
  24. 15Registration of interest and right to buy Not yet in force
  25. Assignation in relation to 1991 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  26. 16Assignation of tenancy Not yet in force
  27. Assignation in relation to 2003 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  28. 17Assignation of limited duration tenancy Not yet in force
  29. 18Assignation of modern limited duration tenancy Not yet in force
  30. 19Assignation of repairing tenancy Not yet in force
  31. Resumption Not yet in force
  32. 20Resumption in relation to 1991 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  33. 21Resumption in respect of limited duration tenancies and repairing tenancies Not yet in force
  34. 22Compensation for disturbance on resumption Not yet in force
  35. Compensation on termination and resumption Not yet in force
  36. 23Power to make provision about compensation on termination Not yet in force
  37. 24Power to make provision about compensation on resumption Not yet in force
  38. Compensation for improvements Not yet in force
  39. 25Compensation for improvements Not yet in force
  40. Use of agricultural land: diversification Not yet in force
  41. 26Notice of and objection to diversification Not yet in force
  42. 27Tenant extension notice Not yet in force
  43. 28Determinations by Land Court Not yet in force
  44. 29Compensation arising as a result of diversification Not yet in force
  45. Tenant Farming Commissioner: codes of practice Not yet in force
  46. 30Resumption and termination of relevant tenancies and small landholdings Not yet in force
  47. 31Use of land for non-agricultural purposes Not yet in force
  48. Game damage etc. Not yet in force
  49. 32Compensation for damage by game etc. Not yet in force
  50. Introduction of standard procedure for claiming compensation Not yet in force
  51. 33Standard claim procedure Not yet in force
  52. 34Interest payable on compensation Not yet in force
  53. Rent review Not yet in force
  54. 35Rent review: 1991 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  55. 36Rent review: limited duration tenancies Not yet in force
  56. 37Rent review: repairing tenancies Not yet in force
  57. Rules of good estate management and husbandry Not yet in force
  58. 38Rules of good estate management Not yet in force
  59. 39Rules of good husbandry Not yet in force
  60. Succession in relation to 1991 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  61. 40Notice requirements: lease of 1991 Act holding Not yet in force
  62. 41Landlord’s objection to legatee or acquirer on intestacy: near relatives and other persons Not yet in force
  63. 42Legatee or acquirer on intestacy: supplementary provision Not yet in force
  64. Succession in relation to 2003 Act tenancies Not yet in force
  65. 43Succession to tenancy Not yet in force
  66. Part 3: Final provisions
  67. 44Ancillary provision
  68. 45Regulation-making powers
  69. 46Further procedure for regulations under sections 23 and 24
  70. 47Commencement
  71. 48Short title
  72. Schedule 1Meaning of connected person Not yet in force
  73. Schedule 2: Small landholdings Not yet in force
  74. Part 1: Small landholdings and small landholders Not yet in force
  75. 1Leases of small landholdings Not yet in force
  76. 2Persons who may be small landholders Not yet in force
  77. 3Land which may not be, or be part of, a small landholding Not yet in force
  78. 4Size of small landholding Not yet in force
  79. 5Duration of lease of small landholding Not yet in force
  80. Part 2: Rent Not yet in force
  81. 6Rent Not yet in force
  82. 7Alteration of rent by agreement Not yet in force
  83. 8Application to Land Court to fix the rent Not yet in force
  84. 9Land Court’s power to fix the rent in connection with a ruling on diversification Not yet in force
  85. 10Land Court’s powers in respect of rent arrears Not yet in force
  86. Part 3: Use of small landholding Not yet in force
  87. 11Conditions of let Not yet in force
  88. 12Dwelling-houses Not yet in force
  89. 13Landlord’s right of access Not yet in force
  90. 14Landlord’s right to use water rising on holding Not yet in force
  91. 15Compensation for damage caused by game or game management Not yet in force
  92. Part 4: Diversification Not yet in force
  93. 16Diversification agreement Not yet in force
  94. 17Notice of diversification Not yet in force
  95. 18Request by landlord for information about proposed diversification Not yet in force
  96. 19Landlord’s agreement or objection to notice of diversification Not yet in force
  97. 20Negotiation of diversification agreement Not yet in force
  98. 21Withdrawal of objection Not yet in force
  99. 22Withdrawal or modification of conditions Not yet in force
  100. 23Determination of Land Court in relation to objection to diversification Not yet in force
  101. 24Diversification agreement entered into during proceedings under paragraph 23 Not yet in force
  102. 25Application by landholder to Land Court to remove conditions Not yet in force
  103. 26Use of land other than for cultivation Not yet in force
  104. 27Interpretation of Part Not yet in force
  105. Part 5: Disposal of holding by small landholder Not yet in force
  106. Chapter 1: Renunciation Not yet in force
  107. 28Renunciation of tenancy by small landholder Not yet in force
  108. Chapter 2: Assignation Not yet in force
  109. 29Ability to assign Not yet in force
  110. 30Landlord’s objection to assignation Not yet in force
  111. Chapter 3: Succession Not yet in force
  112. 31Bequest of holding Not yet in force
  113. 32Intestate succession to holding Not yet in force
  114. 33Landlord’s objection to successor: near relatives Not yet in force
  115. 34Landlord’s objection to successor: other persons Not yet in force
  116. 35Landlord’s objection to successor: right to temporary occupation Not yet in force
  117. Part 6: Removal of small landholder Not yet in force
  118. 36Security of tenure Not yet in force
  119. 37Removal for breach of conditions Not yet in force
  120. 38Resumption by landlord Not yet in force
  121. Part 7: Compensation Not yet in force
  122. Chapter 1: Right to compensation Not yet in force
  123. 39Small landholder’s right to compensation Not yet in force
  124. 40Small landholder’s right to compensation: improvements Not yet in force
  125. 41Small landholder’s right to compensation: increase in value due to diversification Not yet in force
  126. 42Landlord’s right to compensation Not yet in force
  127. 43Landlord’s right to compensation: deterioration etc. of holding. Not yet in force
  128. 44Landlord’s right to compensation: decrease in value due to diversification Not yet in force
  129. 45Recovery of compensation: further provision Not yet in force
  130. Chapter 2: Compensation: ancillary provision Not yet in force
  131. 46Outstanding rent Not yet in force
  132. 47Compensation to outgoing landholder by incoming landholder Not yet in force
  133. 48Record of condition Not yet in force
  134. Chapter 3: Process for determination of compensation amount Not yet in force
  135. 49Application to Tenant Farming Commissioner Not yet in force
  136. 50Appointment of valuer by Tenant Farming Commissioner Not yet in force
  137. 51Objection to valuer appointed by Tenant Farming Commissioner Not yet in force
  138. 52Valuer’s expenses Not yet in force
  139. 53Assessment of compensation Not yet in force
  140. 54Notice of assessment Not yet in force
  141. 55Appeal against valuer’s assessment Not yet in force
  142. 56Referral of certain matters by Lands Tribunal to Land Court Not yet in force
  143. Part 8: Right to buy Not yet in force
  144. 57Register of Community Interests in Land: small landholders’ interests in buying land Not yet in force
  145. 58Registration of small landholder’s interest in buying land Not yet in force
  146. 59Owner’s challenge to registration Not yet in force
  147. 60Duration of registration Not yet in force
  148. 61Notice of proposal to transfer land Not yet in force
  149. 62Transfers not requiring notice Not yet in force
  150. 63Right to buy Not yet in force
  151. 64Exercise of right to buy Not yet in force
  152. 65Effect of extinguishing right to buy Not yet in force
  153. 66Procedure for buying Not yet in force
  154. 67Appointment of valuer Not yet in force
  155. 68Valuation of the land Not yet in force
  156. 69Valuation etc.: further provision Not yet in force
  157. 70Appeal to Lands Tribunal against valuation Not yet in force
  158. 71Referral of certain matters by Lands Tribunal to Land Court Not yet in force
  159. 72Registration of small landholder’s interest: power to modify provisions Not yet in force
  160. 73Interpretation of Part Not yet in force
  161. Part 9: Alternative dispute resolution Not yet in force
  162. 74Agreement to resolve matters other than by application to Land Court Not yet in force
  163. 75Arbitration: procedure etc. Not yet in force
  164. 76Conduct of arbitrator and setting aside of arbitrator’s award Not yet in force
  165. Part 10: Consequential modifications Not yet in force
  166. 77Repeal and disapplication of existing law Not yet in force
  167. 78Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act 1887 Not yet in force
  168. 79Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 Not yet in force
  169. 80Small Landholders and Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1931 Not yet in force
  170. 81Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 Not yet in force
  171. 82Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 Not yet in force
  172. 83Scottish Land Court Act 1993 Not yet in force
  173. Part 11: General and interpretation Not yet in force
  174. 84Restriction on contracting out of small landholders’ statutory rights Not yet in force
  175. 85Restriction on contracting out of rights to apply to Land Court Not yet in force
  176. 86Interpretation Not yet in force