PART 3Access to services etc
CHAPTER 1Residential tenancies
General
I134Orders
1
An order prescribing requirements for the purposes of this Chapter may, in particular, require a landlord or agent to—
a
obtain a document of a prescribed description from relevant occupiers before or during the course of a residential tenancy agreement;
b
obtain one document of each of a number of prescribed descriptions from relevant occupiers before or during the course of a residential tenancy agreement;
c
take steps to verify, retain, copy or record the content of a document obtained in accordance with the order;
d
take such other steps before or during the course of a residential tenancy agreement as the order may specify.
2
If the draft of an instrument containing an order under or in connection with this Chapter would, apart from this subsection, be a hybrid instrument for the purposes of the standing orders of either House of Parliament, it is to proceed in that House as if it were not a hybrid instrument.
I235Transitional provision
1
This Chapter does not apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement entered into before the commencement day.
2
This Chapter does not apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement entered into on or after the commencement day (“the renewed agreement”) if—
a
another residential tenancy agreement was entered into before the commencement day between the same parties (“the original agreement”), and
b
the tenant has always had a right of occupation of the premises leased under the renewed agreement since entering into the original agreement.
C13
In this section “the commencement day” means such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint; and different days may be appointed for different purposes or areas.
F14
References in this section to this Chapter do not include sections 33A to 33E (offences and eviction).
5
Sections 33A to 33C apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement entered into before or after the coming into force of section 39 of the Immigration Act 2016 (which inserted those sections into this Act).
6
But sections 33A(10) and (11) and 33B apply only in relation to a contravention of section 22 which occurs after the coming into force of section 39 of the Immigration Act 2016.
F57
Sections 33D and 33E apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement entered into before or after the coming into force of section 40 of the Immigration Act 2016 (which inserted those sections into this Act).
I336Crown application
This Chapter binds the Crown, except where the Crown is the responsible landlord for the purposes of section 23 F2or the landlord for the purposes of section 33A.
I437Interpretation
1
In this Chapter—
“adult” means a person who has attained the age of 18;
“agreement” includes an agreement in any form (whether or not in writing);
“eligibility period”, in relation to a limited right occupier, is to be read in accordance with section 27;
“limited right occupier” has the meaning given in section 24(9);
“occupy” means occupy as an only or main residence;
“penalty notice” means a penalty notice given under this Chapter;
“person with a limited right to rent” has the meaning given in section 21(4);
“post-grant contravention” has the meaning given in section 22(10);
“pre-grant contravention” has the meaning given in section 22(10);
“premises” includes land, buildings, moveable structures, vehicles and vessels;
“prescribed” means prescribed in an order made by the Secretary of State;
“recipient” means the recipient of a penalty notice;
“relevant occupier” has the meaning given in section 22(10);
“residential tenancy agreement” has the meaning given in section 20(2).
2
For the purposes of this Chapter a residential tenancy agreement grants a person a right to occupy premises if—
a
the agreement expressly grants that person the right (whether or not by naming the person), or
b
the person is permitted to occupy the premises by virtue of an express grant given to another person,
and references to a person occupying premises under an agreement are to be read accordingly.
3
A reference in this Chapter to the “prescribed requirements”, in connection with compliance with the requirements at a particular time, is a reference only to such of the requirements as are capable of being complied with at that time.
4
Where two or more persons jointly constitute the landlord in relation to a residential tenancy agreement—
a
the references to the landlord in—
i
section 22(7)(a),
ii
section 24(5), (6)(a) and (7), F3...
iii
section 26(6)(a) and (7)(b),
F4iv
section 33A,
F6v
section 33D, and
vi
section 33E,
are to be taken as references to any of those persons;
b
any other references to the landlord in this Chapter are to be taken as references to all of those persons.
5
Where two or more persons jointly constitute the agent in relation to a residential tenancy agreement—
a
the references to the agent in section 26(5), (6)(a) and (7) are to be taken as references to any of those persons;
b
any other references to the agent in this Chapter are to be taken as references to all of those persons.
6
The Secretary of State may by order prescribe cases in which—
a
a residential tenancy agreement is, or is not, to be treated as being entered into for the purposes of this Chapter;
b
a person is, or is not, to be treated as occupying premises as an only or main residence for the purposes of this Chapter.
7
An order under subsection (6) prescribing a case may modify the application of this Chapter in relation to that case.
8
The cases mentioned in subsection (6)(a) include, in particular, cases where—
a
an option to renew an agreement is exercised;
b
rights of occupation under an agreement are varied;
c
an agreement is assigned (whether by the landlord or the tenant);
d
a periodic tenancy arises at the end of a fixed term;
e
an agreement grants a right of occupation on satisfaction of a condition;
f
there is a change in the persons in occupation of the premises leased under an agreement or in the circumstances of any such person.