The Act: Background and Overview
3.The Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 takes forward the proposals for legislative change incorporated in the final report of the Homelessness Task Force. The Act amends existing homelessness legislation, contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c.26) (“the 1987 Act”) and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10) (“the 2001 Act”), and makes changes to repossession proceedings for houses let on assured tenancies, as currently set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 (c.43). The Act primarily affects local authorities in the carrying out of their homelessness functions. There are also implications for non-local authority landlords and security holders in respect of the provisions relating to repossession of property and for registered social landlords (“RSLs”) in assisting local authorities in complying with their new duties.
