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Scotland

Compulsory purchase orders

A compulsory purchase order (CPO) can be used to buy your home, property or land from you.

If you rent your home

You'll get a letter to your home if your landlord's property is being bought through a CPO. This can only be done by certain organisations, called acquiring authorities.

Getting a CPO can take months. You do not have to move out immediately.

You have the right to object to a CPO.

If you have to leave your home

Once a CPO is confirmed, your landlord may tell you to move out.

They must follow a strict legal process to evict you. They cannot just tell you to leave.

Check our advice on your eviction rights.

Compensation

You could get compensation for having to leave your home due to a CPO.

You can claim any of the following:

  • a home loss payment - to compensate you for losing your home

  • a disturbance payment - to cover removal costs

  • a well maintained payment - for keeping your home in a good state of repair

Home loss payment

You could get a home loss payment of £1,500 when any of the following apply:

  • your home is being bought through a CPO

  • your landlord has voluntarily sold your home to avoid the CPO process

  • you’re a housing association tenant, and your home is affected by land improvement or development

  • you have a Scottish secure tenancy, and your landlord has a court order to evict you so that your home can be demolished

To qualify, you must:

  • be the tenant, or be married or in a civil partnership with a tenant who no longer lives in the property

  • have lived in the property for at least 1 year before your home is compulsory purchased

  • be living there on the date the CPO is confirmed

To apply, contact the acquiring authority and ask for their home loss application form.

If they reject your application, you can ask a court to review the decision. You'll need a solicitor to help you apply.

Find a solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland

Check our advice on getting legal help for free or at a lower cost.

Disturbance payment

This is to cover the expense of moving, such as:

  • removal costs

  • altering carpets and curtains for your new home

  • removing and reinstalling appliances, such as your cooker or washing machine

You can get a disturbance payment when any of the following apply:

  • the property you live in is being bought through a CPO

  • your landlord has voluntarily sold your home to avoid the CPO process

  • you’re a housing association tenant, and your home is affected by land improvement or development

To qualify, you must be:

  • living in the property when you received the notice from the acquiring authority that they intend to purchase your home

  • required to move out permanently

If your application is rejected, you can ask a court to review the decision. You'll need a solicitor to help you apply.

Well maintained payment

The acquiring authority will tell you whether you can claim a well maintained payment.

If they say you cannot, and you disagree, you can appeal to the Secretary of State within 21 days of receiving the letter. Get a solicitor to help you appeal.

Last updated: 15 December 2023

Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.

This content applies to Scotland only.

Get advice if you're in England