Scottish Secure Tenancy
Tenants of local authorities and housing associations (known as Registered Social Landlords) will, in most cases, have a Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST). The SST was introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and came into force on September 30, 2002.
Under the SST, tenants have a number of statutory rights including:
- security of tenure;
- right to apply for a joint tenancy;
- rights of succession;
- ability to assign your tenancy, exchange or sublet your house;
- right to repair;
- rights to compensation for improvements;
- rights to information and consultation.
Social sector tenancies that started before September 2002 will automatically convert to the new SST. In these circumstances, tenants do not loose any existing rights; in fact some existing rights will be strengthened and a tenant will also receive the new rights, such as right to information and consultation, introduced by the SST.
Short Scottish Secure Tenancy
Some tenants will have a short Scottish Secure Tenancy agreement, which can be given in limited circumstances. Tenants with a short SST has have the same rights as under the Scottish Secure Tenancy except that:
- there is no right to buy;
- there is no provision for succession; and
- security of tenure is limited.
In addition, rights to assign, sublet etc. are limited to the period of the short SST.
Further information and guidance
The Scottsh Government has developed model tenancy agreements for the SST and short SST. These aim to support social landlords in developing their tenancy agreements. However, individual tenancy agreements produced by landlords will also reflect local circumstances.
Revised model SST agreement
Model short SST agreement
For more information on SST and short SST click on the links below:
Guidance on the SST and the short SST
General information on the SST available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gaelic, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Information on Right to Repair is available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi and Urdu
Information on Right to Compensation for Improvement is available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu
Tenant Participation