The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 7, Amendment and Saving Provision) Order 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force various provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 (“the Act”).

Article 2 amends an incorrect date in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provision) Order 2016.

Article 3 appoints 1st December 2017 for the coming into force of section 16 and Part 1 of schedule 1 of the Act, section 17 and Part 2 of that schedule, section 18 and Part 3 of that schedule and section 19 and Part 4 of that schedule.

The effect of section 16 of the Act is to transfer the functions and jurisdiction of the sheriff (except in relation to criminal offences) in respect of certain types of tenancy, to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. The types of tenancy are: regulated tenancies and Part VII contracts under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 and assured tenancies under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. Sections 17, 18 and 19 make amendments consequential to the transfer of functions and jurisdiction in relation to the repairing standard, the right to adapt rented houses and landlord registration, respectively.

The third entry in the table in the schedule commences paragraph 7 of schedule 1 of the Act only for the purpose of proceedings in relation to a regulated or an assured tenancy. Paragraph 7 makes a consequential amendment to section 23(1) (prohibition of eviction without due process of law) of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984. As section 23 applies to various types of tenancy and excepts others, including Part VII contracts, it is commenced only in relation to those types of tenancy in respect of which jurisdiction is transferring to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Article 4 makes a saving provision in relation to proceedings begun in the sheriff court prior to 1st December 2017 and appeals in relation to those proceedings whether an appeal is made before or after 1st December 2017.

The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 1st August 2014. Sections 100, 101, 102, 104 and 105 of the Act came into force on that day by virtue of section 104(1) of the Act.