OpenLegislation

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

2006 asp 1 · Enacted 5 January 2006 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 6 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 22 titleword insertedPrivate Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 s. 35(3)
s. 121(2)(da)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 37(2)(a)
s. 121(4)(5)insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 37(2)(b)
s. 122A-122EinsertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 37(3)
s. 123AinsertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 37(4)
s. 12(1)(c)-(e)omittedHousing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Modification of the Repairing Standard) 2019 reg. 2(2)

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about housing standards; to confer a right to adapt rented houses to meet the needs of disabled occupants; to provide for the giving of assistance by local authorities in connection with work carried out in relation to houses; to require certain information to be made available on the sale of houses; to regulate the multiple occupation of houses and certain other types of living accommodation; to make provision about mobile homes; to make provision about matters to be considered by local authorities when assessing suitability of persons to act as a landlord; and for connected purposes.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 24th November 2005 and received Royal Assent on 5th January 2006C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act power to amend conferred (20.11.2014) by Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 14), ss. 20(2)(b), 104(3); S.S.I. 2014/264, art. 2, Sch.

Contents

  1. Part 1: Housing standards
  2. Chapter 1: Housing renewal areas
  3. Designation of housing renewal areas
  4. 1Housing renewal areas: criteria
  5. 2Housing renewal areas: procedure
  6. 3HRA action plans
  7. 4Variation of HRA designation order
  8. 5Revocation of HRA designation order
  9. 6Directions concerning identification of housing renewal areas
  10. 7Public access to HRA designation orders
  11. Implementation of HRA action plans
  12. 8Implementation: duties of local authority
  13. 9Duty to rehouse displaced residents
  14. Chapter 2: Strategic housing functions
  15. 10Local housing strategies
  16. Chapter 3: The tolerable standard
  17. 11Amendment of the tolerable standard
  18. Chapter 4: The repairing standard
  19. Landlord's duty to repair and maintain
  20. 12Tenancies to which repairing standard duty applies
  21. 13The repairing standard
  22. 14Landlord's duty to repair and maintain
  23. 15Application of duty in relation to flats etc.
  24. 16Exceptions to landlord's repairing duty
  25. 17Prohibition on contracting out
  26. 18Contracting out with consent of First-tier Tribunal
  27. 19Pre-tenancy inspection
  28. 19ADuty to ensure regular electrical safety inspections
  29. 19BElectrical safety inspections
  30. 20Tenant's right to information about landlord's duty
  31. 20APower to modify repairing standard etc.
  32. Enforcement of repairing standard
  33. 21Naming of panel and re-naming of committees Repealed
  34. 22Application in respect of the repairing standard
  35. 22AInformation to be given to local authority
  36. 23Consideration of applications
  37. 23ADelegation of Chamber President’s functions
  38. 24Determination by the First-tier Tribunal
  39. 25Variation and revocation of repairing standard enforcement orders
  40. 26Effect of failure to comply with repairing standard enforcement order
  41. 27Rent relief orders
  42. 28The repairing standard: offences
  43. 28ALandlord application to the First-tier Tribunal
  44. 28BLandlord application to the First-tier Tribunal: further provision
  45. 28CFirst-tier Tribunal Member to arrange suitable time for access
  46. 29Annual report Repealed
  47. Chapter 5: Repair, improvement and demolition of houses
  48. Work notices and demolition notices
  49. 30Work notices
  50. 31Suspension of work notice
  51. 32Revocation of work notice
  52. 33Demolition notices
  53. 34Extension of period for completion of work or demolition
  54. Enforcement by local authority
  55. 35Carrying out of work or demolitions by local authority
  56. 36Carrying out of work by local authority: repairing standard
  57. 37Evacuation
  58. 38Warrants for ejection
  59. 39Unlawful occupation etc.
  60. 40Acquisition of houses to be demolished
  61. 41Sale of materials from demolished houses
  62. Chapter 6: Maintenance
  63. Maintenance orders
  64. 42Maintenance orders
  65. Maintenance plans
  66. 43Maintenance plans
  67. 44Maintenance plans for two or more houses
  68. 45Maintenance plans for two or more houses: further provision
  69. 46Approval of maintenance plans
  70. 47Variation and revocation of maintenance plans
  71. 48Implementation of maintenance plans
  72. 49Enforcement of maintenance plans
  73. Recovery of maintenance costs
  74. 50Power of majority to recover maintenance costs
  75. Maintenance accounts
  76. 51Maintenance accounts: grants
  77. Chapter 7: Right to adapt rented houses
  78. 52Right to adapt rented houses
  79. 53Matters relevant to application to carry out work under section 52
  80. 54Amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
  81. Chapter 8: Supplemental provisions, including appeals
  82. Supplemental
  83. 55Power of local authority to carry out or arrange work or demolition
  84. 56Effect of tenant moving from house
  85. 57Obstructions etc.
  86. 58Listed buildings etc.
  87. 59Recovery of expenses etc.
  88. 60Certification
  89. 61Registration
  90. 62Service of documents
  91. 63Date of operation of notices, orders etc.
  92. Appeals
  93. 64Part 1 appeals
  94. 65Part 1 appeals: determination
  95. 66Part 1 appeals: procedure etc.
  96. 66AAppeals in relation to section 52
  97. 67Adaptations: power to change method of appeal Repealed
  98. Chapter 9: Interpretation
  99. 68Sub-standard houses
  100. 69Application to non-residential premises
  101. 70Interpretation of Part 1
  102. Part 2: Scheme of assistance for housing purposes
  103. Provision of assistance for housing purposes
  104. 71Assistance for housing purposes
  105. 72Guidance about availability and amount of assistance
  106. 73When assistance must be provided
  107. Grants and loans
  108. 74Grants and loans: applications
  109. 75Determination of applications
  110. 76The approved expense
  111. 77Assessment of applicant's contribution
  112. 78Applicant's contribution: review
  113. 79Amount of grant or loan
  114. 80Terms of loan
  115. 81Notification of decisions
  116. 82Payment of grants and loans
  117. Grants and loans: conditions
  118. 83Conditions applicable on completion of work
  119. 84Registration of conditions
  120. 85Discharge of conditions
  121. 86Breach of conditions of grant or loan
  122. 87Calculation of amount to be paid on breach of conditions
  123. Miscellaneous and supplementary
  124. 88Limitation on further grant and loan applications
  125. 89Grant and loan applications: offences
  126. 90Work to improve energy efficiency and safety
  127. 91Local authority payments to not for profit lenders
  128. Special cases
  129. 92Tenants
  130. 93Application to agricultural tenants etc.
  131. Supplementary
  132. 94Directions and guidance
  133. 95Local authority powers for improvement of amenity of an area
  134. 96Application of this Part to the Scottish Ministers
  135. 97Interpretation of Part 2
  136. Part 3: Provision of information on sale of house
  137. Duty to have or provide information about houses on the market
  138. 98Duty to have information about a house which is on the market
  139. 99Duty to provide information to potential buyer
  140. 100Imposition of conditions on provision of information
  141. 101Other duties of person acting as agent for seller
  142. 102Acting as agent
  143. 103Duty to ensure authenticity of documents held under section 98 or 101
  144. Prescribed documents
  145. 104Information to be held or provided to potential buyers
  146. Exceptions from duty
  147. 105Exceptions from duty to have or provide information
  148. Responsibility for marketing houses
  149. 106Responsibility for marketing: general
  150. 107Responsibility of person acting as agent
  151. 108Responsibility of seller
  152. Enforcement
  153. 109Enforcement authorities
  154. 110Power to require production of prescribed documents
  155. 111Penalty charge notices
  156. 112Offences relating to enforcement officers
  157. Duty to provide information to tenant exercising right to purchase
  158. 113Information for tenants exercising right to purchase
  159. Supplementary
  160. 114Grants for development of proposals
  161. 115Disapplication for houses not available with vacant possession
  162. 116Application of Part to sub-divided buildings
  163. 117Notification of breach of duty
  164. 118Possession of documents
  165. 119Meaning of “on the market”, “sale” and related expressions
  166. Part 4: Tenancy deposits
  167. 120Tenancy deposits: preliminary
  168. 121Tenancy deposit schemes: regulatory framework
  169. 122Approval of tenancy deposit schemes
  170. 123Amendment of Rent (Scotland) Act 1984
  171. Part 5: Licensing of houses in multiple occupation
  172. Introductory
  173. 124Requirement for HMOs to be licensed
  174. Meaning of “house in multiple occupation”
  175. 125Meaning of “house in multiple occupation”
  176. 126HMOs exempt from licensing requirement
  177. 127Power to designate HMOs capable of being exempted by local authorities
  178. 128Relationships
  179. Application for HMO licence
  180. 129Application for HMO licence
  181. 129APreliminary refusal: breach of planning control
  182. 130Suitability of applicants and agents
  183. 131Suitability of living accommodation
  184. 131AOverprovision
  185. 132Restriction on applications
  186. Terms of HMO licence
  187. 133Conditions
  188. 134Duration of HMO licence
  189. 135Application for new HMO licence: effect on existing HMO licence
  190. 136Change of ownership: effect on HMO licence
  191. 137Death of licence holder: effect on HMO licence
  192. Variation and revocation of HMO licence
  193. 138Variation of HMO licence
  194. 139Revocation of HMO licence
  195. Delivery and cancellation of HMO licence
  196. 140Delivery of HMO licence
  197. 141Cancellation of HMO licence
  198. Temporary exemptions
  199. 142Temporary exemption orders
  200. 143Temporary exemption orders: requirement to improve safety or security
  201. Enforcement by local authority
  202. 144Suspension of rent etc.
  203. 145Power to require rectification of breach of HMO licence
  204. 146HMO amenity notices
  205. 147HMO amenity notices: relevant matters
  206. 148HMO amenity notices: revocation
  207. 149HMO amenity notices: extension of period for completion of work
  208. 150HMO amenity notices: further provision
  209. 151Power of local authority to carry out or arrange work
  210. 152Effect of person moving from living accommodation
  211. 153Obstructions etc.
  212. Offences etc.
  213. 154Offences relating to HMOs
  214. 155Defences
  215. 156Penalties etc.
  216. 157Disqualification orders etc.
  217. Local authority decisions: notice and appeals
  218. 158Notice of decisions
  219. 159Part 5 appeals
  220. General and supplementary
  221. 160HMO register
  222. 161Fees
  223. 162Grants: exercise of functions in relation to HMOs
  224. 163Guidance
  225. 164Joint licence holders
  226. 165Agents
  227. 166Interpretation of Part 5
  228. Part 6: Mobile homes
  229. 167Particulars of site agreements to be given in advance
  230. 168Variation of site agreements
  231. 169Implied terms relating to termination of agreements or disposal of mobile homes
  232. 170Power to amend terms implied in site agreements
  233. 171Amendments: harassment and eviction of occupiers of mobile homes
  234. Part 7: Repayment charges
  235. 172Repayment charges
  236. 172ARepayment charge: appeals to the sheriff
  237. 173Effect of registering repayment charges etc.
  238. 174Repayment charges: further provision
  239. 174ARepayment charges: registered social landlords
  240. Part 8: Miscellaneous
  241. 175Matters relevant to deciding whether person is fit and proper to act as a landlord
  242. 176Other amendments of Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004
  243. 177Registered social landlords: delegation of functions
  244. 178Registered social landlords: permissible purposes
  245. 179Strategy for improving home energy efficiency Repealed
  246. 180Amendment of Housing (Scotland) Act 1988
  247. Part 9: Rights of entry
  248. 181Rights of entry: general
  249. 182Warrants authorising entry
  250. 183Rights of entry: constables
  251. 184Rights of entry: supplemental
  252. Part 10: General and supplementary
  253. 185Equal opportunities
  254. 186Power to obtain information etc.
  255. 187Formal communications
  256. 188Forms
  257. 189Offences by bodies corporate etc.
  258. 190Ancillary provision
  259. 191Orders and regulations
  260. 192Modification, revocation and repeal of enactments
  261. 193Crown application
  262. 194Interpretation
  263. 195Short title and commencement
  264. Schedule 1: Housing renewal areas: procedure
  265. Consultation
  266. 1Paragraph 1
  267. Consideration by Scottish Ministers
  268. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  269. Notice of decision
  270. 3Paragraph 3
  271. Listed buildings etc.
  272. 4Paragraph 4
  273. Schedule 2: The First-Tier Tribunal: procedure etc.
  274. Notification of referral
  275. 1Paragraph 1
  276. Inquiries
  277. 2Paragraph 2
  278. Evidence
  279. 3Paragraph 3
  280. Duty to consult on provision for detecting fires
  281. 4Paragraph 4
  282. Expenses
  283. 5Paragraph 5
  284. Recording and notification of decisions
  285. 6Paragraph 6
  286. Withdrawal of application
  287. 7Paragraph 7
  288. Procedure: further provision.
  289. 8Paragraph 8
  290. Schedule 3: Penalty charge notices under section 111
  291. 1Paragraph 1
  292. 2Paragraph 2
  293. 3Paragraph 3
  294. 4Paragraph 4
  295. 5Paragraph 5
  296. 6Paragraph 6
  297. 7Paragraph 7
  298. 8Paragraph 8
  299. Schedule 4: Applications for HMO licences: procedure
  300. Content of application
  301. 1Paragraph 1
  302. Notice of application
  303. 2Paragraph 2
  304. Notices: exceptions
  305. 3Paragraph 3
  306. Representations
  307. 4Paragraph 4
  308. Inquiries
  309. 5Paragraph 5
  310. Applicant's opportunity to respond
  311. 6Paragraph 6
  312. Hearings
  313. 7Paragraph 7
  314. Consideration of application
  315. 8Paragraph 8
  316. Time limit for determining application
  317. 9Paragraph 9
  318. Schedule 5: HMO amenity notices: enforcement etc.
  319. Carrying out of work by local authority
  320. 1Paragraph 1
  321. Evacuation
  322. 2Paragraph 2
  323. Warrants for ejection
  324. 3Paragraph 3
  325. Unlawful occupation etc.
  326. 4Paragraph 4
  327. Listed buildings etc.
  328. 5Paragraph 5
  329. Recovery of expenses etc.
  330. 6Paragraph 6
  331. Certification
  332. 7Paragraph 7
  333. Registration
  334. 8Paragraph 8
  335. Schedule 6: Consequential changes
  336. Part 1: Modification of Acts
  337. References to “standard amenities”
  338. 1Paragraph 1
  339. Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act 1886 (c. 29)
  340. 2Paragraph 2
  341. Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 56)
  342. 3Paragraph 3
  343. Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 58)
  344. 4Paragraph 4
  345. 5Paragraph 5
  346. 6Paragraph 6
  347. 7Paragraph 7
  348. 8Paragraph 8
  349. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 26)
  350. 9Paragraph 9
  351. 10Paragraph 10
  352. 11Paragraph 11
  353. 12Paragraph 12
  354. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
  355. 14Paragraph 14
  356. 15Paragraph 15 Not yet in force
  357. Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 43)
  358. 16Paragraph 16
  359. Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c. 53)
  360. 17Paragraph 17
  361. Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (c. 10)
  362. 18Paragraph 18
  363. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11)
  364. 19Paragraph 19
  365. Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 8)
  366. 20Paragraph 20
  367. 21Paragraph 21
  368. 22Paragraph 22
  369. Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 5)
  370. 23Paragraph 23
  371. Part 2: Revocation of subordinate legislation
  372. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Orders
  373. 24Paragraph 24
  374. Schedule 7Repeals