This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. Get advice relating to England

If you rent your home from a housing association or housing cooperative (also known as registered social landlords or RSLs) you will have the same kind of tenancy as a council tenant. If you rent from a private sector housing association, you will have the same rights as a private tenant.

Registered social landlords

If you are a housing association tenant or housing co-op tenant, you will probably have either a Scottish secure tenancy (SST) or a short Scottish secure tenancy (SSST). SSSTs are only created in special circumstances, so if you have not been told specifically that you have an SSST, you will have a Scottish secure tenancy.

Go to the section on council tenancies to find out your rights.

Private sector housing associations

Some housing associations are run as businesses, and are not registered with the Scottish Housing Regulator (formerly known as Communities Scotland) or the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA). If you rent your home from a commercial housing association, you will have the same kind of tenancy rights as a private tenant. If your housing association is not on the SFHA's list of registered housing associations, it will probably be a private sector housing association. Check with your landlord if you're not sure what kind of tenancy you have.