Housing (Scotland) Act 1988

Resident landlords S

9 (1) A tenancy in respect of which the following conditions are fulfilled— S

(a) that the house forms part only of a building;

(b) subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, that the tenancy was granted by a person who, at the time when he granted it, occupied as his only or principal home another house which also forms part of the building;

(c) that, at the time when the tenancy was granted, there was an ordinary means of access—

(i) to or from the house by way of that other house; or

(ii) to or from that other house by way of the house

(whether or not that access was available to the tenant as of right); and

(d) subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, at all times since the tenancy was granted the interest of the landlord under the tenancy has belonged to a person who, at the time he owned that interest, occupied as his only or principal home another house which also formed part of the building.

(2) The condition in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above shall be deemed to be fulfilled if the tenancy was granted by trustees and, at the time when the tenancy was granted, the interest of the landlord under the tenancy thereby created was held on trust for a person who was entitled to the liferent or to the fee or a share of the fee of that interest and who occupied as his only or principal home a house which forms part of the building referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above.

(3) In determining whether the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(d) above is at any time fulfilled with respect to a tenancy, there shall be disregarded—

(a) any period of not more than 28 days beginning with the date of the conveyance of the interest of the landlord under the tenancy to an individual who, during that period, does not occupy as his only or principal home another house which forms part of the building concerned;

(b) if, within a period falling within paragraph (a) above, the individual concerned notifies the tenant in writing of his intention to occupy as his only or principal home another such house as is referred to in that paragraph, the period beginning with the date of the conveyance mentioned in that paragraph and ending—

(i) at the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning on that date; or

(ii) on the date on which the interest of the landlord under the tenancy ceases to be held by that individual; or

(iii) on the date on which the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(c) above again applies,

whichever is the earliest; and

(c) any period of not more than 24 months beginning with the date of death of the landlord under the tenancy during which the interest of the landlord under the tenancy is vested in his executor.

(4) Throughout any period which, by virtue of sub-paragraph (3)(a) or (b) above, falls to be disregarded for the purpose of determining whether the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(d) above is fulfilled with respect to a tenancy, no order for possession of the house subject to that tenancy shall be made, other than an order which might be made if that tenancy were or, as the case may be, had been an assured tenancy.

(5) During any period—

(a) when—

(i) the interest of the landlord under the tenancy referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above is vested in trustees; and

(ii) that interest is held on trust for a person who is entitled to the liferent or to the fee or a share of the fee of that interest and who occupies as his residence a house which forms part of the building referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above;

(b) of not more than 24 months beginning with the date of death of the occupier referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above and ending with the date of occupation of the house by any other person who is entitled to the liferent or to the fee or to a share of the fee of that interest,

the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(d) above shall be deemed to be fulfilled and, accordingly, no part of that period shall be disregarded by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) above.

(6) This paragraph does not apply to a tenancy of a house which forms part of a building if the tenancy is granted to a person who, immediately before it was granted, was an assured tenant of that house or of any other house in that building.

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) “conveyance” includes the grant of a tenancy and any other conveyance or transfer other than upon death;

(b) “the date of the conveyance” means the date on which the conveyance was granted, delivered or otherwise made effective.