Search Legislation

Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016

Extended meaning of tenancy in the Act

13.Section 4 provides that private residential tenancies are tenancies, despite the lack of an “ish” (i.e. a termination date) — at common law, a tenancy must have an ish.

14.Section 4 also provides that once a tenancy has become a private residential tenancy, it continues to be one even if it is subsequently agreed that the tenant no longer has to pay rent. At common law, a tenancy agreement must include a requirement for rent of some form or other to be paid. And for there to be a private residential tenancy, there must be an underlying tenancy. Dropping the requirement for the payment of rent from a lease would, but for section 4, mean that there would no longer be a tenancy per se and therefore the Act’s provisions would cease to apply to the arrangement.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources