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This content applies to Scotland only.
Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England
If you rent your home you will probably have a tenancy. There are several different kinds of tenancy, and your rights will depend on which kind you have. In this section you can find out which tenancy you have and what rights this gives you.
Read more about tenancy agreements here, or find out what kind of tenancy you have. You can read a useful overview of basic tenancy rights here. If you're still not sure which tenancy rights apply to you, get advice from a housing aid centre or Citizens Advice Bureau.
About your tenancy rights
In this section you can find out what kind of tenancy you have, read an overview of the rights and responsibilities shared by all tenants and landlords, and find out more about tenancy agreements and leases. Read more 
Council tenancies
This section explains your rights if you rent your home from the council or from a registered social landlord (RSL). Housing associations and housing cooperatives are both RSLs. It also explains your rights if you are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. Read more
Housing associations and co-ops
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. Read more
Private tenancies
In this section you can find out more about your rights if you rent accommodation from a private landlord or letting agency. Read more
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
This page contains information for people living in bedsits, flats, lodgings, shared houses, hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation. All of these types of housing are known as houses in multiple occupation or HMOs. Read more
Common law tenancies
Common law tenancies are any tenancies which are not regulated by statutory law (that is, laws issued by Parliament or the Scottish Parliament). This means your rights depend mainly on the terms in your tenancy agreement. This section explains who has common law tenancy rights and what those rights are. Read more
Sharing with your landlord
People who share accommodation with their landlord have different rights to those who rent separate property. This page explains who has a resident landlord and what your rights are if you share with your landlord. Read more
Subtenants
If you rent property from a tenant who in turn is renting from a landlord, you will be a subtenant. This page explains how subtenancy agreements work and what your rights are. Read more
Student accommodation
This section looks at your rights if you live in accommodation owned by your university or college. If you are disabled, this section looks at your rights to access university or college accommodation suitable for your needs. Read more
Supported accommodation
This page explains your rights if you live in supported accommodation. Your rights will depend on the kind of accommodation you are living or staying in and what kind of support you receive. If you are living in a care home, in addition to your tenancy or occupancy rights, you will also have rights under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act. Read more
Tied accommodation
If your accommodation is 'tied', that is, provided as part of your job, your rights to stay there will depend on the kind of agreement you have with your employer/landlord and whether this agreement is a lease or a service occupancy. Read more
Mobile homes rights
The laws governing the owning and renting of mobile homes are different to those governing the owning and renting of traditional 'bricks and mortar' properties. This section explains your rights if you own or rent a mobile home such as a caravan or park home, or you rent a pitch to station it on. Read more
Agricultural tenancies
This section looks at your rights if you rent agricultural land and have an agricultural tenancy. There are three kinds of agricultural tenancy: 1991 Act tenancies, limited duration tenancies and short limited duration tenancies. Read more
Crofters' rights and responsibilities
Crofting tenants have secure rights to stay on their land, but they also have a responsibility to use the land well. This section explains more. Read more
Shared ownership rights
Shared ownership schemes allow you to buy a share in a housing association property and pay a reduced 'rent', called an occupancy payment, for the part of the home you don't own. When you buy your share, the housing association will give you an occupancy agreement, setting out your rights and responsibilities. Read more
Rights of disabled people
If you are a disabled person, you will have additional rights to help you deal with landlords and letting agents. This page looks at your rights and what to do if you feel your landlord is discriminating against you because of your disability. These rights apply whether you rent from a private landlord or from the council or a housing association. Read more
Subletting and lodgers
If you have a spare room, you may be considering taking in a lodger or subtenant to help you pay your rent. Or you may want to rent the whole of the property to someone else and move out. This section explains how to go about this and what the rights of your tenant will be. Read more
Ending a tenancy
If you want to move out of your rented accommodation, it's important that you go through the correct process and give your landlord the correct notice. Whatever you do, don't just walk away! Read more
Landlord registration
Landlord registration helps councils monitor private landlords and ensure that they are suitable people to let out property. The landlord register was introduced in April 2006. This section looks at how the registration process works and what the register means for tenants. Read more
Rent and deposits
Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 has two main aims: to improve the condition of privately owned homes and to raise standards in the private rented sector. These pages discuss how the Act will affect home owners and tenants, and look at the new rights and responsibilities it will introduce. Read more
