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Rent (Scotland) Act 1984

1984 c. 58 · Enacted 31 October 1984 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 4 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. 25(1)words repealedHousing (Scotland) Act 2014 sch. 1 para. 9
s. 12ZAinsertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 31(2)
s. 23A(5B)insertedNationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 s. 32(6)
s. 23A(5A)words omittedImmigration Act 2016 Sch. 11 para. 2(b)(iii)

An Act to consolidate in relation to Scotland certain enactments relating to rents and tenants’ rights and connected matters.

[31st October 1984]

C1C2C3C4C5Be 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:—C6C7C8

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

A Table showing the derivation of the provisions of this consolidation Act will be found at the end of the Act. The Table has no official status.

C2

Act modified by Fire Precautions Act 1971 (c. 40, SIF 50), s. 34, Sch. 1 Pt. III

C3

Act excluded by Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 26, SIF 61), ss. 55(4), 103, 128, 145, 335; and Act excluded (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 8, ss. 199(2), 278(2)

C4

Act applied by National Health Service and Community Health Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 60(2), Sch. 8 Pt. III para. 20(3)

C5

Act: definition of "statutory tenant" applied (30.11.1991) by Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 (c. 45, SIF 86), s. 22(1), Sch. 4 para. 1 (4)(c) (with s. 37(4), Sch. 7); S.I. 1991/2508, art. 2

C6

Act restricted (3.9.2007) by Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 1), ss. 38(10), 195(3) (with s. 193); S.S.I. 2007/270, art. 3

C7

Act restricted (31.8.2011) by Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 1), s. 195(3), sch. 5 para. 3(10) (with s. 193); S.S.I. 2010/159, art. 3

C8

Act modified (temp.) (28.10.2022) by Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (asp 10), s. 13(1), sch. 2 para. 6 (with ss. 1(2), 6, 7, 8) (as amended (1.4.2023) by S.S.I. 2023/82, regs. 1(3), 2(2)); and (27.9.2023) by S.S.I. 2023/275, regs. 1(2), 2(2))

Contents

  1. Part I: Preliminary
  2. 1Protected tenancies.
  3. 2Tenancies excepted from definition of “protected tenancy”.
  4. 3Statutory tenants and tenancies.
  5. 3AStatutory tenants and tenancies: further provision as to succession.
  6. 3BSuccession after the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 comes into force
  7. 4No protected or statutory tenancy where landlord’s interest belongs to Crown.
  8. 5No protected or statutory tenancy where landlord’s interest belongs to local authority, etc.
  9. 6No protected tenancy where landlord’s interest belongs to resident landlord.
  10. 7Rateable value and the appropriate day.
  11. 8Regulated tenancies.
  12. 9Short tenancies.
  13. 10Premises with business use.
  14. Part II: Security of Tenure
  15. 11Grounds for possession of certain dwelling-houses.
  16. 12Extended discretion of court in claims for possession of certain dwelling-houses.
  17. 12ARequirement to notify local authority of proceedings for possession
  18. 13Effect of tenancy being short tenancy.
  19. 14Conditions applying to landlord’s right to recovery of possession.
  20. 15Terms and conditions of statutory tenancies.
  21. 16Payments demanded by statutory tenants as a condition of giving up possession.
  22. 17Change of statutory tenant by agreement.
  23. 18No pecuniary consideration to be required on change of tenant under s. 17.
  24. 19Effect on sub-tenancies of determination of tenancy.
  25. 20Effect on furnished sub-tenancy of determination of superior unfurnished tenancy.
  26. 21Compensation for misrepresentation or concealment in Cases 7 and 8.
  27. Part III: Protection against Harassment and Eviction without due process of Law
  28. 22Unlawful eviction and harassment of occupier.
  29. 23Prohibition of eviction without due process of law.
  30. 23AExcluded tenancies and occupancy rights.
  31. 24Special provisions with respect to agricultural employees.
  32. 25Interpretation.
  33. 26Application to Crown.
  34. 27Application to sheriff Repealed
  35. Part IV: Rents under Regulated Tenancies
  36. 28Limit of rent during contractual periods.
  37. 29Limit of rent during statutory periods
  38. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  39. 31Adjustment, with respect to services and furniture, of recoverable rent for statutory periods before registration.
  40. 32Notices of increase.
  41. 33Limits on rent increases
  42. 34Rent agreements.
  43. 35Rent agreements: special provisions following conversion.
  44. 36Failure to comply with provisions of rent agreements.
  45. 37Recovery from landlord of sums paid in excess of recoverable rent, etc.
  46. 37AExtension of time limits for recovery from landlord: cross-border mediation Repealed
  47. 38Onus on landlord.
  48. 39Rectification of rent books in light of determina-tion of recoverable rent.
  49. 40Adjustment for differences in lengths of rental periods.
  50. 41Regulations.
  51. 42Interpretation of Part IV.
  52. Part V: Registration of Rents under Regulated Tenancies
  53. 43Registration areas and rent officers.
  54. 43ARent registration service providers.
  55. 43BSupplementary provisions regarding rent registration service providers.
  56. 43CRent registration service providers: restrictions on disclosure of information.
  57. 44Private rented housing committees. Repealed
  58. 45Register of rents.
  59. 46Applications for registration of rents.
  60. 47Certificates of fair rent.
  61. 48Determination of fair rent.
  62. 49Amount to be registered as rent.
  63. 49ATransitional applications: regulated tenancies
  64. 50Effect of registration of rent.
  65. 51Cancellation of registration of rent.
  66. 52Cancellation at instance of landlord.
  67. 53Regulations.
  68. 54Interpretation of Part V.
  69. Part VI: Rent Limit for Dwelling-houses Let by Housing Associations and the Housing Corporation
  70. 55Tenancies to which sections 55 to 59 apply.
  71. 56Rents to be registrable under Part V.
  72. 57The rent limit.
  73. 58Phasing of progression to registered rent.
  74. 59Increase of rent without notice to quit.
  75. 60Supplemental to sections 55 to 59.
  76. 61Interpretation of Part VI.
  77. Part VII: Part VII Contracts
  78. 62Registration areas for purposes of Part VII.
  79. 63Part VII contracts.
  80. 64Dwelling-houses to which Part VII applies.
  81. 65References of contracts to the First-tier Tribunal and obtaining by it of information.
  82. 66Powers of the First-tier Tribunal on reference of contracts.
  83. 66ATransitional references of Part VII contracts Repealed
  84. 67Register of rents under Part VII contracts.
  85. 68Reconsideration of rent after registration.
  86. 69Effect of registration of rent.
  87. 70Cancellation of entries in register at instance of landlord.
  88. 71Notice to quit served after reference of contract to the First-tier Tribunal.
  89. 72Application to the First-tier Tribunal for security of tenure where notice to quit is served.
  90. 73Notices to quit served by owner-occupiers.
  91. 74Reduction of period of notice on account of lessee’s default.
  92. 75Power of First-tier Tribunal, in action for possession, to reduce period of notice to quit
  93. 76Notice to quit relating to later Part VII contracts.
  94. 77Jurisdiction of the First-tier Tribunal.
  95. 78Publication of information.
  96. 79Rent book to be provided.
  97. 80Regulations.
  98. 81Interpretation of Part VII.
  99. Part VIII: Premiums, etc.
  100. 82Prohibition of premiums and loans on grant of protected tenancies.
  101. 83Prohibition of premiums and loans on assignation of protected tenancies.
  102. 84Power to charge premium on assignation of tenancy where premium lawfully charged on earlier assignation.
  103. 85Prohibition of premiums on grant, etc. of Part VII contracts.
  104. 86Excessive price for furniture to be treated as premium.
  105. 87Punishment of attempts to obtain from prospective tenants excessive prices for furniture.
  106. 88Recovery of premiums and loans unlawfully required or received.
  107. 89Avoidance of requirements for advance payment of rent in certain cases.
  108. 89APremiums: regulations
  109. 90Interpretation of Part VIII.
  110. Part IX: Heritable Securities
  111. 91Heritable securities to which Part IX applies.
  112. 92Regulated heritable securities.
  113. 93Powers of court to mitigate hardship.
  114. 94Miscellaneous.
  115. Part X: Miscellaneous and General
  116. 95Release from rent regulation.
  117. 96Provisions where tenant shares accommodation with landlord.
  118. 97Provisions where tenant shares accommodation with persons other than landlord.
  119. 98Application of Part VII to tenancies falling within section 6.
  120. 99Certain sublettings not to exclude any part of sublessor’s premises from protection under the Act.
  121. 100Obligation to notify sublettings of dwelling-houses let on or subject to protected or statutory tenancies.
  122. 101Landlord’s consent to work.
  123. 101ADiscriminatory terms relating to children or benefits status
  124. 102Jurisdiction.
  125. 103Application to sheriff.
  126. 104Rules as to procedure.
  127. 105Powers of local authorities for the purposes of giving information.
  128. 106Consent of tenant.
  129. 107Prosecution of offences.
  130. 108Service of notices on landlord’s agents.
  131. 109Rents of subsidised private houses.
  132. 110Restriction on sequestration for rent. Repealed
  133. 111Implied condition in all protected tenancies.
  134. 112Minimum length of notice to quit.
  135. 113Rent book to be provided.
  136. 114Service of notices.
  137. 115Interpretation.
  138. 116Application to Crown property.
  139. 117Amendments, trasitional provisions, repeals, etc.
  140. 118Short title, commencement and extent.
  141. Schedule 1: Statutory Tenants by Succession
  142. 1Paragraph 1
  143. 2Paragraph 2
  144. 3Paragraph 3
  145. 4Paragraph 4
  146. 5Paragraph 5
  147. 6Paragraph 6
  148. 7Paragraph 7
  149. 8Paragraph 8
  150. 9Paragraph 9
  151. Schedule 1A: Statutory or Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession in a case to which section 3A(1) applies
  152. 1Paragraph 1
  153. 2Paragraph 2
  154. 3Paragraph 3
  155. 4Paragraph 4
  156. 5Paragraph 5
  157. 6Paragraph 6
  158. 7Paragraph 7
  159. 8Paragraph 8
  160. Schedule 1B: Statutory Assured Tenants by Succession in a case to which section 3A(2) applies
  161. 1Paragraph 1
  162. 2Paragraph 2
  163. 3Paragraph 3
  164. 4Paragraph 4
  165. 5Paragraph 5
  166. Schedule 2: Grounds for Possession of Dwelling-Houses Let on or Subject to Protected or Statutory Tenancies
  167. Part I: Certain cases in which First-tier Tribunal may order possession
  168. Case 1
  169. Paragraph
  170. Case 2
  171. Case 3
  172. Case 4
  173. Case 5
  174. Case 6
  175. Case 7
  176. Case 8
  177. Case 9
  178. Case 10
  179. Part II: Further cases in which First-tier Tribunal may order possession
  180. Case 11
  181. Paragraph
  182. Case 12
  183. Paragraph
  184. Case 13
  185. Paragraph
  186. Case 14
  187. Paragraph
  188. Case 15
  189. Paragraph
  190. Case 16
  191. Paragraph
  192. Case 17
  193. Paragraph
  194. Case 18
  195. Paragraph
  196. Case 19
  197. Paragraph
  198. Case 20
  199. Paragraph
  200. Case 21
  201. Paragraph
  202. Part III: Provisions Applicable to Case 8 and Part II above
  203. 1Paragraph 1
  204. 2Paragraph 2
  205. Part IV: Suitable Alternative Accommodation
  206. 1Paragraph 1
  207. 2Paragraph 2
  208. 3Paragraph 3
  209. 4Paragraph 4
  210. 5Paragraph 5
  211. 6Paragraph 6
  212. Schedule 3. . .
  213. Schedule 4: private rented housing Committees Repealed
  214. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  215. 1AParagraph 1A Repealed
  216. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  217. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  218. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  219. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  220. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  221. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  222. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  223. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  224. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  225. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  226. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  227. Schedule 5: Applicatons for Registration of Rents
  228. Part I: Applications Unsupported by Certificate of Fair Rent
  229. Precedure on applications to rent officer
  230. 1Paragraph 1
  231. 2Paragraph 2
  232. 3Paragraph 3
  233. 4Paragraph 4
  234. 5Paragraph 5
  235. 6Paragraph 6
  236. 7Paragraph 7
  237. Determination of fair rent by the First-tier Tribunal
  238. 8Paragraph 8
  239. 9Paragraph 9
  240. 10Paragraph 10
  241. Part II: Applications Supported by Certificate of Fair Rent
  242. Procedure on applications to rent officer
  243. 11Paragraph 11
  244. 12Paragraph 12
  245. Procedure on references to private rented housing committee
  246. 13Paragraph 13
  247. Provisional registration
  248. 14Paragraph 14
  249. 15Paragraph 15
  250. Part III: Supplemental
  251. 16Paragraph 16
  252. Schedule 6: Certificates of Fair Rent
  253. 1Paragraph 1
  254. 2Paragraph 2
  255. 3Paragraph 3
  256. 4Paragraph 4
  257. 5Paragraph 5
  258. 6Paragraph 6
  259. 7Paragraph 7
  260. 8Paragraph 8
  261. 9Paragraph 9
  262. 10Paragraph 10
  263. Schedule 7: Premium allowed on assignation of Tenancy where Premium lawfully paid on Grant
  264. 1Paragraph 1
  265. 2Paragraph 2
  266. 3Paragraph 3
  267. 4Paragraph 4
  268. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  269. 6Paragraph 6
  270. Schedule 8: Enactments Amended
  271. Part I
  272. General provisions
  273. 1Paragraph 1
  274. 2Paragraph 2
  275. Part II
  276. Specific amendments
  277. The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951 (c. 65)
  278. The Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 49)
  279. The New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 16)
  280. The Housing (Scotland) Act 1969 (c. 34)
  281. The Fire Precautions Act 1971 (c. 40)
  282. The Housing (Scotland) Act 1974 (c. 45)
  283. The Tenant’s Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 52)
  284. The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65)
  285. Schedule 9: Savings and Transitional Provisions
  286. 1Paragraph 1
  287. 2Paragraph 2
  288. 3Paragraph 3
  289. 4Paragraph 4
  290. 5Paragraph 5
  291. 6Paragraph 6
  292. 7Paragraph 7
  293. Schedule 10Enactments Repealed