OpenLegislation

Housing (Scotland) Act 1988

1988 c. 43 · Enacted 2 November 1988 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 26 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 May 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 66(1)(aa) and wordinsertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(2)(c)
s. 56(3)(e)repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(5)(b)
s. 66(1)words insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(2)(a)
s. 66(1)words substitutedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(2)(b)
s. 66(1)(c) and wordrepealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(2)(d)
s. 66(2A)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(3)
s. 66(5A)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 s. 50(4)
Sch. 2 para. 2repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(11)
Sch. 2 para. 3(a)repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(11)
Sch. 2 para. 14repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(11)
Sch. 5 Pt. 3 para. 1—Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(13)(a)
Sch. 5 Pt. 3 para. 3(1)(a)—Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(13)(b)(i)
Sch. 5 Pt. 3 para. 3(2)—Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(13)(b)(ii)
Sch. 5 Pt. 3 para. 5 6—Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 Sch. 10 para. 14(13)(c) (d)
s. 42(1)(d)words repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2014 sch. 2 para. 5(2)
Sch. 7 para. 19-26repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2014 sch. 2 para. 5(4)
s. 20AinsertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 30(2)
s. 25(6)words substitutedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 26(2)(a)
s. 25(6A)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 26(2)(b)
s. 36(3)words substitutedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 32(2)(a)
s. 36(6B)repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 32(2)(b)
s. 36(7A)-(7C)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 32(2)(c)
s. 36(8)words insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 32(2)(d)
s. 37substitutedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 32(3)
s. 53(2)words insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 Sch. para. 2(2)
Sch. 4 para. 11Bwords omittedImmigration Act 2016 Sch. 11 para. 2(b)(v)

An Act to establish a body having functions relating to housing; and, as respects Scotland, to make further provision with respect to houses let on tenancies; to confer on that body and on persons approved for the purpose the right to acquire from public sector landlords certain houses occupied by secure tenants; to make new provision as to the limit on discount on the price of houses purchased by secure tenants; to provide for the making of local authority grants to assist local authority tenants to obtain accommodation otherwise than as such tenants; to abolish, and make interim provision for the capitalisation of, certain subsidies and contributions relating to housing; to make further provision about rent officers and the administration of housing benefit and rent allowance subsidy; to make provision for the disposal of housing land by development corporations; and for connected purposes.

[2nd November 1988]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part I: Scottish Homes
  2. Establishment and functions
  3. 1Scottish Homes.
  4. 2General functions of Scottish Homes.
  5. 2A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  6. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  7. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  8. Finance and administration
  9. 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  10. 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  11. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  12. 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. Part II: Rented Accommodation
  17. Assured tenancies
  18. 12Assured tenancies.
  19. 13Letting of a house together with other land.
  20. 14Tenant sharing accommodation with persons other than landlord.
  21. 15Certain sublettings not to exclude any part of sub-lessor’s premises from assured tenancy.
  22. Assured tenancies—security of tenure
  23. 16Security of tenure
  24. 17Fixing of terms of statutory assured tenancy.
  25. 18Orders for possession.
  26. 19Notice of proceedings for possession.
  27. 19ARequirement to notify local authority of proceedings for possession
  28. 20Extended discretion of First-tier Tribunal in possession claims
  29. 21Special provisions applicable to shared accommodation.
  30. 22Payment of removal expenses in certain cases.
  31. Assured tenancies—rents and other terms
  32. 23Limited prohibition on assignation etc. without consent.
  33. 23ARent cap controls Repealed
  34. 24Increases of rent under assured tenancies.
  35. 24AConsideration of notice to increase rent by rent officer Repealed
  36. 24BRight of appeal to First-tier Tribunal against order of rent officer Repealed
  37. 24CFirst-tier Tribunal’s power to set rent subject to permitted rate Repealed
  38. 24DWithdrawal of referral or appeal Repealed
  39. 24ELandlord application to rent officer to increase rent above permitted rate Repealed
  40. 24FRent officer’s power to apply rent increase above permitted rate Repealed
  41. 24GAppeal to the First-tier Tribunal Repealed
  42. 24HWithdrawal or dismissal of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal Repealed
  43. 24IFinality of First-tier Tribunal’s decision Repealed
  44. 24JPowers to adjust maximum amount of increased costs by which rent may be increased Repealed
  45. 24KLiability for underpaid rent Repealed
  46. 25Determination of rent by the First-tier Tribunal
  47. 25ZAPower to modify this Part Repealed
  48. 25ZBDetermination of rent payable Repealed
  49. 25ZCDetermination of open market rent Repealed
  50. 25AAssured tenancies: transitional provisions
  51. 25BDetermination of rent by the First-tier Tribunal where section 25A applies
  52. 26Access for repairs.
  53. 26ADiscriminatory terms relating to children or benefits status
  54. Assured tenancies—miscellaneous
  55. 27Prohibition of premiums etc. on assured tenancies.
  56. 28Effect of termination of tenancy on sub-tenancies which are or are under assured tenancies.
  57. 29Restriction on diligence.
  58. 30Duty of landlord under assured tenancy to provide written tenancy document and weekly rent book.
  59. 30ADuty of landlord to provide certain information
  60. 30BDuty of landlord to provide certain information: further provision
  61. 31Right of succession of spouse.
  62. 31ASuccession after the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 comes into force
  63. Short assured tenancies
  64. 32Short assured tenancies.
  65. 33Recovery of possession on termination of a short assured tenancy.
  66. 34Reference of rents under short assured tenancies to the First-tier Tribunal
  67. 35Disapplication of the First-tier Tribunal’s functions under section 34
  68. Protection from eviction
  69. 36Damages for unlawful eviction.
  70. 37The measure of damages.
  71. 38Further offence of harassment.
  72. 39Variation of scope of sections 23 and 24 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.
  73. 40Cases excluded from sections 23 and 24 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.
  74. Power to repeal sections 33 and 58 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984
  75. 41Power of Secretary of State to repeal sections 33 and 58 of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 and to reduce phasing progressively.
  76. Phasing out of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 and other transitional provisions
  77. 42New protected tenancies restricted to special cases.
  78. 43Removal of special regimes for tenancies of housing associations etc.
  79. 44New “Part VII” contracts limited to transitional cases.
  80. 45Transfer of existing tenancies.
  81. 46Statutory tenants: succession.
  82. Phasing out of assured tenancies
  83. 46AChange to private residential tenancy by agreement
  84. General provisions
  85. 47Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 not to apply to tenancies subject to shared ownership agreements.
  86. 48First-tier Tribunal: procedure and information powers
  87. 48AAmounts attributable to services.
  88. 49Information as to determination of rents.
  89. 50Powers of local authorities for the purposes of giving information.
  90. 51Application to Crown.
  91. 52Saving for common law as to effect of notice of termination upon tacit relocation.
  92. 53Orders and regulations.
  93. 54Notice under Part II.
  94. 55Interpretation of Part II.
  95. Part III: Change of Landlord: Secure Tenants
  96. 56Right conferred by Part III. Repealed
  97. 57Persons by whom right may be exercised. Repealed
  98. 58Application to exercise rights conferred by this Part and offer to sell. Repealed
  99. 59Variation of conditions. Repealed
  100. 60Notice of acceptance. Repealed
  101. 61Refusal of applications. Repealed
  102. 62Reference to Lands Tribunal. Repealed
  103. 63Consent for subsequent disposals. Repealed
  104. 64Extension etc. of relevant periods. Repealed
  105. Part IV: Miscellaneous and General
  106. 65“Cost floor” limit on discount on price of house purchased by secure tenant.
  107. 66Schemes for payments to assist local authority tenants to obtain other accommodation.
  108. 67Abolition and capitalisation of certain subsidies and contributions.
  109. 68Abolition of local authority’s power to refer Part VII contracts to the First-tier Tribunal
  110. 69Exclusion of SSHA, development corporations and co-operative housing associations from rent limitation under Part VI of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.
  111. 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  112. 71Power of development corporations to dispose of housing land.
  113. 72Amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and other enactments and repeals.
  114. 73Finance.
  115. 74Short title, commencement and extent.
  116. Schedule 1
  117. Incorporation
  118. 1Paragraph 1
  119. Status
  120. 2Paragraph 2
  121. 3Paragraph 3
  122. Membership
  123. 4Paragraph 4
  124. 5Paragraph 5
  125. Chairman and Deputy Chairmen
  126. 6Paragraph 6
  127. Remuneration, Allowances and Pensions
  128. 7Paragraph 7
  129. 8Paragraph 8
  130. Staff
  131. 9Paragraph 9
  132. 10Paragraph 10
  133. 11Paragraph 11
  134. 12Paragraph 12
  135. 13Paragraph 13
  136. Proceedings
  137. 14Paragraph 14
  138. 15Paragraph 15
  139. 16Paragraph 16
  140. Committees
  141. 17Paragraph 17
  142. Execution of Documents
  143. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  144. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  145. Schedule 2: Amendments Consequential on Establishing of Scottish Homes and Abolition of SSHA
  146. General
  147. 1Paragraph 1
  148. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 c. 13.
  149. 2Paragraph 2
  150. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 c. 24.
  151. 3Paragraph 3
  152. Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 c. 30.
  153. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  154. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 c. 58.
  155. 5Paragraph 5
  156. Housing Associations Act 1985 c. 69.
  157. 6Paragraph 6
  158. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 c. 26.
  159. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  160. 8Paragraph 8
  161. 9Paragraph 9
  162. 10Paragraph 10
  163. 11Paragraph 11
  164. 12Paragraph 12
  165. 13Paragraph 13
  166. 14Paragraph 14
  167. 15Paragraph 15
  168. Local Government Act 1988 c. 9.
  169. 16Paragraph 16
  170. 17Paragraph 17
  171. Schedule 3Schedule 3
  172. Schedule 4: Tenancies which cannot be Assured Tenancies
  173. Tenancies entered into before commencement
  174. 1Paragraph 1
  175. Tenancies at a low rent
  176. 2Paragraph 2
  177. Tenancies of shops
  178. 3Paragraph 3
  179. Licensed premises
  180. 4Paragraph 4
  181. Tenancies of agricultural land
  182. 5Paragraph 5
  183. Tenancies of agricultural holdings
  184. 6Paragraph 6
  185. Lettings to students
  186. 7Paragraph 7
  187. Holiday lettings
  188. 8Paragraph 8
  189. Resident landlords
  190. 9Paragraph 9
  191. Crown tenancies
  192. 10Paragraph 10
  193. Local authority and other tenancies
  194. 11Paragraph 11
  195. Accommodation for offenders
  196. 11AParagraph 11A
  197. Accommodation for homeless persons
  198. 11AParagraph 11A
  199. Accommodation for asylum-seekers
  200. 11BParagraph 11B
  201. ...
  202. 11CParagraph 11C Repealed
  203. Shared ownership agreements
  204. 12Paragraph 12
  205. Transitional cases
  206. 13Paragraph 13
  207. Schedule 5: Grounds for Possession of Houses let on Assured Tenancies
  208. Part I: Certain grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession
  209. Ground 1
  210. Paragraph
  211. Ground 2
  212. Paragraph
  213. Ground 3
  214. Paragraph
  215. Ground 4
  216. Paragraph
  217. Ground 5
  218. Paragraph
  219. Ground 6
  220. Paragraph
  221. Ground 7
  222. Paragraph
  223. Ground 8
  224. Paragraph Repealed
  225. Part II: Further grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession
  226. Ground 9
  227. Paragraph
  228. Ground 10
  229. Paragraph
  230. Ground 11
  231. Paragraph
  232. Ground 12
  233. Paragraph
  234. Ground 13
  235. Paragraph
  236. Ground 14
  237. Paragraph
  238. Ground 15
  239. Paragraph
  240. Ground 16
  241. Paragraph
  242. Ground 17
  243. Paragraph
  244. Part III: Suitable Alternative Accommodation
  245. 1Paragraph 1
  246. 2Paragraph 2
  247. 3Paragraph 3
  248. 4Paragraph 4
  249. 5Paragraph 5
  250. 6Paragraph 6
  251. 7Paragraph 7
  252. Part IV: Notices relating to recovery of Possession
  253. 8Paragraph 8
  254. 9Paragraph 9
  255. 10Paragraph 10
  256. Schedule 6: Statutory or Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession
  257. Part I: New Schedules 1A and 1B to Rent (Scotland) Act 1984
  258. 1Paragraph 1
  259. Part II: Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession—Modification of Enactments
  260. 2Paragraph 2
  261. 3Paragraph 3
  262. Schedule 7: Housing (Scotland) Act 1987—Amendments connected with Consolidation
  263. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  264. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  265. 3Paragraph 3
  266. 4Paragraph 4
  267. 5Paragraph 5
  268. 6Paragraph 6
  269. 7Paragraph 7
  270. 8Paragraph 8
  271. 9Paragraph 9
  272. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  273. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  274. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  275. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  276. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  277. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  278. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  279. 17Paragraph 17
  280. 18Paragraph 18
  281. 19Paragraph 19
  282. 20Paragraph 20
  283. 21Paragraph 21
  284. 22Paragraph 22
  285. 23Paragraph 23
  286. 24Paragraph 24
  287. 25Paragraph 25
  288. 26Paragraph 26
  289. 27Paragraph 27
  290. 28Paragraph 28
  291. 29Paragraph 29
  292. 30Paragraph 30
  293. Schedule 8: Housing (Scotland) Act 1987— Minor Amendments
  294. 1Paragraph 1
  295. 2Paragraph 2
  296. 3Paragraph 3
  297. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  298. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  299. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  300. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  301. 8Paragraph 8
  302. 9Paragraph 9
  303. 10Paragraph 10
  304. Schedule 9: Consequential Amendments
  305. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 c. 56.
  306. 1Paragraph 1
  307. Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 c. 65.
  308. 2Paragraph 2
  309. Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 c. 59.
  310. 3Paragraph 3
  311. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 c. 58.
  312. 4Paragraph 4
  313. 5Paragraph 5
  314. Housing Associations Act 1985 c. 69.
  315. 6Paragraph 6
  316. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  317. 8Paragraph 8
  318. 9Paragraph 9
  319. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 c. 26.
  320. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  321. 11Paragraph 11
  322. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  323. 13Paragraph 13
  324. 14Paragraph 14
  325. 15Paragraph 15
  326. 16Paragraph 16
  327. 17Paragraph 17
  328. 18Paragraph 18
  329. 19Paragraph 19
  330. 20Paragraph 20
  331. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  332. Schedule 10Repeals