In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1987 Act” means the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 26),

• “the 1988 Act” means the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 43),

• “assured tenancy” and “short assured tenancy” have the same meanings as in Part II of the 1988 Act,

• “family” and membership of a person’s family are to be construed in accordance with section 108,

• “flat” means a separate and self-contained set of premises, whether or not on the same floor, forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally,

• “homeless”, “homelessness” and “threatened with homelessness” are to be construed in accordance with Part II of the 1987 Act,

• “hostel” means—

  1. a

     in relation to a building provided or converted before 3rd January 1962, a building in which is provided, for persons generally or for any class or classes of persons, residential accommodation (otherwise than in separate and self-contained houses) and board, and

  2. b

     in relation to a building provided or converted on or after that date, a building in which is provided for persons generally or for any class or classes of persons, residential accommodation (otherwise than in houses) and either board or common facilities for the preparation of adequate food to the needs of those persons, or both,

• “house” includes—

  1. a

     any part of a building, being a part which is occupied or intended to be occupied as a separate dwelling, and in particular includes a flat, and

  2. b

     any yard, garden, outhouses and pertinents belonging to the house or usually enjoyed with it,

• “housing accommodation” includes flats, lodging-houses and hostels,

• “housing support services” has the meaning given in section 91(8),

• “local authority” means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39), and “local government area” means the area for which such a council is constituted,

• “local authority landlord” has the meaning given in section 11(3),

• “registered social landlord” means a body registered in the register maintained under section 57,

• “registered tenant organisation” has the meaning given in section 53(6),

• “Scottish secure tenancy” is to be construed in accordance with section 11 (and does not include a short Scottish secure tenancy),

• “short Scottish secure tenancy” is to be construed in accordance with section 34.