{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/insolvency-act-1986/section-51",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/insolvency-act-1986/section-51.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1986/45",
  "legislation_title": "Insolvency Act 1986",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/insolvency-act-1986",
  "path": "section/51",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "51",
  "heading": "Power to appoint receiver.",
  "text": "(1) It is competent under the law of Scotland for the holder of a floating charge over all or any part of the property (including uncalled capital), which may from time to time be comprised in the property and undertaking of an incorporated company (whether a company registered under the Companies Act 2006 or not)\n(a) which the Court of Session has jurisdiction to wind up; or\n(b) where paragraph (a) does not apply, in respect of which a court of a member state ... has under the EU Regulation jurisdiction to open insolvency proceedings,\nto appoint a receiver of such part of the property of the company as is subject to the charge.\n(2) It is competent under the law of Scotland for the court, on the application of the holder of such a floating charge, to appoint a receiver of such part of the property of the company as is subject to the charge.\n(2ZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(2A) Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to section 72A.\n(3) The following are disqualified from being appointed as receiver—\n(a) a body corporate;\n(b) an undischarged bankrupt; and\n(ba) a person subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order;\n(c) a firm according to the law of Scotland.\n(4) A body corporate or a firm according to the law of Scotland which acts as a receiver is liable to a fine.\n(5) An undischarged bankrupt or a person subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order who so acts is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.\n(6) In this section, “receiver” includes joint receivers ; and\n“bankruptcy restrictions order” means—\n(a)a bankruptcy restrictions order made under section 155 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016;\n(b)...\n(c)a bankruptcy restrictions order made under paragraph 1 of Schedule 4A to this Act; or\n(d)a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking entered into under paragraph 7 of that Schedule.\n“the EU Regulation” is Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on insolvency proceedings as that Regulation has effect in the law of the European Union;\n“court” is to be construed in accordance with Article 2(6) of the EU Regulation;\n“insolvency proceedings” is to be construed in accordance with Article 2(4) of the EU Regulation.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(1) substituted (1.10.2009) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009, (S.I. 2009/1941) arts. 2(1), 8, {Sch. 1 para. 74(5)} (with art. 10, Sch. 1 para. 84)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(1) substituted (17.3.2011) by The Insolvency Act 1986 Amendment (Appointment of Receivers) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/140), reg. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(1)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Insolvency (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/94), regs. 1, 2(2)(a) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/337, regs. 1, 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 51(2ZA) repealed (1.4.2016) by The Public Services Reform (Insolvency) (Scotland) Order 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/141), arts. 1(2), 2 (with arts. 14, 15)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 51(2A) inserted (15.9.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 248(3), 279, Sch. 17 para. 13 (with s. 249(1)-(3)(6)); S.I. 2003/2093, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-8 (as amended by S.I. 2003/2332, art. 2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 51(3)(ba) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 3(2), 227(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a) (with arts. 5, 6, 10); as amended by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(5) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 3(3), 227(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a) (with arts. 5, 6, 10); as amended by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) inserted (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 3(4), 227(3) (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3(1)(a) (with arts. 5, 6, 10); as amended by S.S.I. 2011/31, art. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) substituted (30.11.2016) by The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1034), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 4(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) repealed (1.4.2015) by Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 11), s. 57(2), sch. 4; S.S.I. 2014/261, art. 3 (with arts. 4-7 12) (as amended by S.S.I. 2015/54, art. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) inserted (17.3.2011) by The Insolvency Act 1986 Amendment (Appointment of Receivers) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/140), reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency (Regulation (EU) 2015/848) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/210), regs. 1, 2(2)(a) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Insolvency (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/94), regs. 1, 2(2)(b) (with reg. 9) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/337, regs. 1, 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency (Regulation (EU) 2015/848) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/210), regs. 1, 2(2)(b) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 51(6) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency (Regulation (EU) 2015/848) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/210), regs. 1, 2(2)(c) (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 50-52 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/128, reg. 4(1), Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Ss. 50-52 applied (with modifications) (4.1.2024) by S.I. 2021/716, Sch. 1 para. 3 (as amended by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1399), regs. 1(2), 20)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/51",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:55:00.443447+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}