(1)A tenancy under which a dwelling-house (which may be a house or part of a house) is let as a separate dwelling is a protected tenancy for the purposes of this Act unless—
(a)the rateable value of the dwelling-house on the appropriate day exceeded or, as the case may be, exceeds £200, or in the case of a dwelling-house comprising or forming part of lands and heritages for which a rateable value is or was first shown on the valuation roll on or after 1st April 1978, £600; or
(b)the tenancy is one with respect to which section 2 below otherwise provides; or
(c)by virtue of section 4 or 5 below, the tenancy is for the time being precluded from being a protected tenancy by reason of the body or entity in whom the landlord’s interest is vested; or
(d)by virtue of section 6 below, the tenancy has at all times since it was granted been precluded from being a protected tenancy;
and any reference to a protected tenant shall be construed accordingly.
(2)In relation to dwelling-houses comprisisng or forming part of lands and heritages for which a rateable value is or was first shown on the valuation roll on or after 1st April 1978, the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament increase the said sum of £600 in subsection (1) above, and he may make different provision for different classes of case.
(3)For the purposes of this Act, any land or premises let together with a dwelling-house shall, unless it consists of agricultural land exceeding two acres in extent, be treated as part of the dwelling-house.
(4)If any question arises in any proceedings whether a dwelling-house is within the limit of rateable value in subsection (1)(a) above, it shall be deemed to be within that limit unless the contrary is shown.