This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Right to Buy Housing
12/08/2002
The Executive has published guidance on further aspects of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
The purpose of the guidance is to provide a detailed explanation of the Scottish Secure Tenancy ( Housing(Scotland)Act 2001: Scottish Secure and Short Scottish Secure Tenancy) and the right to buy provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 ( Housing(Scotland)Act 2001: The Modernised Right to Buy) and the orders which are required to implement them.
The two separate documents consider:
- How the new provisions for the Scottish secure and short Scottish secure tenancies will work. The Scottish secure tenancy will come into effect on 30 September and will carry improved rights to succession, and new rights to consultation, information, exchange and joint tenancies for all tenants of social landlords. In limited circumstances a short Scottish secure tenancy will be given and the guidance highlights what these would be.
- How the new 'modernised' right to buy will operate. This includes: information on the modernised right; details of the transition to the new scheme and how current tenants with an existing right to buy will have their previous conditions protected for the duration of their tenancy (including under stock transfer). It also covers the conditions for the limited extension of the right to buy into the RSL sector and the exemptions and limitations which will operate under the modernised right, including the introduction of pressured areas.
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 included provisions for a new Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) for all tenants in the social rented sector to replace the existing secure and assured tenancy regimes. It also included significant changes to the right to buy (reductions in the discount, longer qualifying periods and new provisions for exceptions and limitations) which are collectively known as the modernised right to buy (RTB) and which is linked in to the SST.
Subject to the approval of the relevant orders, the provisions on Scottish Secure Tenancy and the Modernised Right to Buy are expected to be implemented by the end of September 2002.