Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951

20 Modifications of Rent Acts as respects occupation by employees. E+W

(1) Where the carrying out of duties connected with an employment which a service man had before beginning a period of relevant service (or, in the case of a policeman service man, the carrying out of his police duties) constitutes an obligation of a tenancy, and his performing that service prevents his carrying out those duties, the fact that he does not carry them out shall not be treated for the purposes of [F1 Case 1 in [F2 Schedule 15 to the M1 Rent Act 1977]] [F3 or Ground 12 in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988] (which relates to recovery of possession where an obligation of a tenancy has been broken or not performed) [F4 or the ground in section 157 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) (which relates to breach of contract)] as a breach or non-performance of the obligation.

(2) [F5 Case 8 in the said Schedule 15] [F6 or, as the case may be, Ground 16 in the said Schedule 2] (which relates to recovery of possession, without proof of suitable alternative accommodation, in circumstances connected with occupation by employees) shall not apply for the purposes of the proceedings on an application for possession of premises made at any time during a service man’s period of residence protection (as defined in section fourteen of this Act) if either—

(a) the premises are a rented family residence of his as defined in that section; or

[F7 (b) Chapter I of Part I of the Housing Act 1988 applies in relation to the premises as mentioned in section 18(1) of this Act and a dependant or dependants of the service man is or are living in the premises or in part thereof in right of the statutory periodic tenancy or assured tenancy referred to in section 19(a) of this Act]

(3) Where the last preceding subsection has effect as to an application for possession, the circumstances specified in [F8 the Cases in Part I of the said [F9 Schedule 15]] [F10 or, as the case may be, Grounds 10 to 16 in Part II of the said Schedule 2] in which the court has power to make or give an order or judgment for the recovery of possession without proof of suitable alternative accommodation shall include the circumstances specified in either of the following paragraphs, that is to say—

(a) that the landlord is a body who are statutory undertakers or a local authority or development corporation having public utility functions, and that the premises are required by that body in the public interest for occupation as a residence for some person who is engaged in their whole-time employment in connection with their public utility functions or with whom, conditional on housing accommodation being provided, a contract for such employment has been entered into;

(b) where the last preceding subsection has effect by virtue of paragraph (b) thereof and the service man in question is a policeman service man, that the premises are required by the [F11 relevant local policing body or] relevant police authority for occupation as a residence by a member of the police force in question:

Provided that, where the court is satisfied that circumstances exist such as are specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the matters relevant for the court in determining under [F12 section 98(1) of the M2 Rent Act 1977] [F13 or, as the case may be, section 7(4) of the Housing Act 1988] whether it is reasonable to make or give such an order or judgment shall (without prejudice to the generality of that subsection) include the question whether the body seeking the order or judgment have at their disposal any vacant accommodation which would be suitable alternative accommodation for the tenant, or will have such accommodation at their disposal at or before the time when it is proposed that the order or judgment should take effect.

(4) In the last preceding subsection the expressions “statutory undertakers” and “local authority” have the same meanings as in [F14 the M3 Town and Country Planning Act, 1971], the expression “development corporation” has the same meaning as in [F15 the M4 New Towns Act 1965], and the expression “public utility functions” means powers or duties conferred or imposed by or under any enactment being powers or duties to carry on a statutory undertaking (as defined in [F16 the said Act of 1971]) [F17 or being powers or duties of an internal drainage board].

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Rent Act 1968 (c. 23), s. 117(2), Sch. 15

F2 Words substituted by Rent Act 1977 (c. 42), Sch. 23 para. 8

F3 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 9(2)

F4 Words in s. 20(1) inserted (E.W.) (1.12.2022) by The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1166), regs. 1(1), 4(2)

F5 Words substituted by Rent Act 1977 (c. 42), Sch. 23 para. 8

F6 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 9(3)

F7 S. 20(2)(b) substituted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 9(3)

F8 Words substituted by Rent Act 1968 (c. 23), s. 117(2), Sch. 15

F9 Words substituted by Rent Act 1977 (c. 42), Sch. 23 para. 8

F10 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c.50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 9(4)

F11 Words in s. 20(3)(b) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 71; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F12 Words substituted by Rent Act 1977 (c. 42), Sch. 23 para. 8

F13 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c.50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 9(4)

F14 Words substituted by virtue of Town and Country Planning Act 1971 (c. 78), Sch. 24 Pt. I para. 2

F15 Words substituted by virtue of New Towns Act 1965 (c. 59), Sch. 11 para. 5(1)

F16 Words substituted by virtue of Town and Country Planning Act 1971 (c. 78), Sch. 24 Pt. I para. 2

F17 Words substituted by Water Act 1989 (c.15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 161, 163, 189(4)–(10), 190(1), 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 1(2)(v), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 20 amended by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 161, 163, 189(4)-(10), 190(1), 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 1(2)(v), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

Marginal Citations

M1 1977 c. 42.

M2 1977 c. 42.

M3 1971 c. 78.

M4 1965 c. 59.

20 Modifications of Rent Acts as respects occupation by employees. S

(1) Where the carrying out of duties connected with an employment which a service man had before beginning a period of relevant service (or, in the case of a policeman service man, the carrying out of his police duties) constitutes an obligation of a tenancy, and his performing that service prevents his carrying out those duties, the fact that he does not carry them out shall not be treated for the purposes of [F18 Case 1 in [F19 Schedule 2] to the Rent (Scotland) Act [F19 1984]] [F20 or Ground 13 in Schedule 5 to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988] (which relates to recovery of possession where an obligation of a tenancy has been broken or not performed) as a breach or non-performance of the obligation.

(2) [F18 Case 7 in the said [F19 Schedule 2]] [F21 or, as the case may be, Ground 17 in the said Schedule 5] (which relates to recovery of possession, without proof of suitable alternative accommodation, in circumstances connected with occupation by employees) shall not apply for the purposes of the proceedings on an application for possession of premises made at any time during a service man’s period of residence protection (as defined in section fourteen of this Act) if either—

(a) the premises are a rented family residence of his as defined in that section; or

[F22 (b) sections 12 to 31 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 apply in relation to the premises as mentioned in section 18(1) of this Act and a dependant or dependants of the service man is or are living in the premises or in part thereof in right of the statutory assured tenancy or assured tenancy referred to in paragraph (a) of section 19 of this Act]

(3) Where the last preceding subsection has effect as to an application for possession, the circumstances specified in [F18 the Cases in Part I of the said [F19 Schedule 2]] [F23 or, as the case may be, Grounds 10 to 17 in Part II of the said Schedule 5] in which the court has power to make or give an order or judgment for the recovery of possession without proof of suitable alternative accommodation shall include the circumstances specified in either of the following paragraphs, that is to say—

(a) that the landlord is a body who are statutory undertakers of a local authority or development corporation having public utility functions, and that the premises are required by that body in the public interest for occupation as a residence for some person who is engaged in their whole-time employment in connection with their public utility functions or with whom, conditional on housing accommodation being provided, a contract for such employment has been entered into;

(b) where the last preceding subsection has effect by virtue of paragraph (b) thereof and the service man in question is a policeman service man, that the premises are required by the [F11 relevant local policing body or] relevant police authority for occupation as a residence by a member of the police force in question:

Provided that, where the court is satisfied that circumstances exist such as are specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the matters relevant for the court in determining under [F18 [F19 section 11(1)] of the Rent (Scotland) Act M5 [F19 1984]] [F24 or, as the case may be, section 18(4) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988] whether it is reasonable to make or give such an order or judgment shall (without prejudice to the generality of that subsection) include the question whether the body seeking the order or judgment have at their disposal any vacant accommodation which would be suitable alternative accommodation for the tenant, or will have such accommodation at their disposal at or before the time when it is proposed that the order or judgment should take effect.

(4) In the last preceding subsection the expressions “statutory undertakers” and “local authority” have the same meaning as in [F25 the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act M6 1972], the expression “development corporation” has the same meaning as in [F26 the New Towns (Scotland) Act M7 1968], and the expression “public utility functions” means powers or duties conferred or imposed by or under any enactment being powers or duties to carry on a statutory undertaking (as defined in [F25 the said Act of 1972]) or to provide public sewers or provide for the disposal of sewage, F27 . . .

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 20(3)(b) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 71; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F18 Words substituted by Rent (Scotland) Act 1971 (c. 28), s. 135(2), Sch. 18 Pt. II

F19 Words substituted by Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 58, SIF 75:4), s. 117(1), Sch. 8 Pt. II

F20 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 10(2)

F21 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 10(3)

F22 S. 20(2)(b) substituted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 10(3)

F23 Words inserted by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 10(4)(a)

F24 Words inserted after “section 11 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984” by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 75:1), s. 140(1), Sch. 17 para. 10(4)(b)

F25 Words substituted by virtue of s. 24(d) of this Act

F26 Words substituted by virtue of New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 16), Sch. 9 para. 5

F27 Words do not extend to Scotland

Marginal Citations

M5 1984 c.58 (75:4).

M6 1972 c. 52

M7 1968 c. 16