UK Act of Parliament 1977 c. 42 United Kingdom

Rent Act 1977

Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 9 of 41 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 8 carry different penalties and 24 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person11 Landlord9 Director or Officer1

Plus 20 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Landlord — also bound by 224 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Preliminary

1 of 25 sections shown
s.003 Terms and conditions of statutory tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Grant access for repairs and follow notice rules for statutory tenanciesAny Person
24 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.005 Certain shared ownership leases.
s.018 Modification of Act for controlled tenancies converted into regulated tenancies.
Part 3

Rents under Regulated Tenancies

1 of 14 sections shown
Part 4

Registration of Rents Under Regulated Tenancies

7 of 19 sections shown
s.063 Schemes for appointment of rent officers. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must create schemes for appointing rent officersCrown / Minister / Government department
s.064 (1) If the Secretary of State is of the opinion—... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State may amalgamate rent officer registration areasCrown / Minister / Government department
s.065 Rent assessment committees. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Establishment of rent assessment committees for WalesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.067 Application for registration of rent. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Use correct form and details when applying to register a fair rentLandlord
s.070 Determination of fair rent. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent Officer must follow specific rules to determine a fair rentStatutory regulator
s.070 Interim determination of fair rent on application under section 67A Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent officer must determine fair rent increases related to council taxStatutory regulator
s.072 Amounts attributable to services. Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent officer or tribunal must record service charges in the rent registerStatutory regulator
12 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.064 (1) If, with respect to registration areas generally or any...
s.065 Right of appeal from a rent assessment committee
s.067 Application before 1st April 1994 for interim increase of rent in certain cases where landlord liable for council tax
Part 5

Rents Under Restricted Contracts

6 of 12 sections shown
s.077 Reference of contracts to ... tribunals and obtaining by them of information. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Failure to provide tenancy information to a tribunalLandlord

Fine up to £500

s.078 Powers of ... tribunals on reference of contracts. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunals must determine rent levels for restricted contracts on referenceTribunal / Court
s.079 Register of rents under restricted contracts relating to dwellings in Wales. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent Assessment Panel must maintain a public register of rents in WalesStatutory regulator
s.079 Register of rents under restricted contracts relating to dwellings in England Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Property Chamber must maintain a register of restricted rent contractsTribunal / Court
s.081 Effect of registration of rent. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Charge more than the registered rent for a dwellingAny Person
s.081 Cancellation of registration of rent. Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal must cancel rent registration on applicationTribunal / Court
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.080 Reference before 1st April 1994 for interim increase of rent in certain cases where lessor liable for council tax
Part 6

Rent Limit for Dwellings Let by Housing Associations, Housing Trusts and the Housing Corporation

3 of 9 sections shown
s.092 Conversion of housing association tenancies into regulated tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to notify tenant of conversion to regulated tenancyDirector or Officer

Fine up to £100

s.094 Recovery from landlord of sums paid in excess of recoverable rent, etc. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Record illegal rent arrears or fail to correct rent recordsLandlord

Fine up to £1,000

s.095 Duty of landlord to supply statement of rent under previous tenancy. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to provide rent history statement to tenantLandlord

Fine up to £100

6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 7

Security of Tenure

7 of 12 sections shown
s.098 Grounds for possession of certain dwelling-houses. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Courts must only grant possession of protected tenancies on specific groundsTribunal / Court
s.099 Grounds for possession of certain dwelling-houses let to agricultural workers, etc. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Courts must only grant possession of certain agricultural tenancies in specific casesTribunal / Court
s.106 Discretion of court in certain proceedings for possession.

amended 2 times

5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.102 Restricted application of sections 103 to 106.
Part 8

Conversion of Controlled Tenancies into Regulated Tenancies

1 of 2 sections shown
Part 9

Premiums, Etc.

5 of 10 sections shown
s.119 Prohibition of premiums and loans on grant of protected tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Charging illegal premiums or loans for tenanciesAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.120 Prohibition of premiums and loans on assignment of protected tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Charging or receiving illegal premiums for lease assignmentsAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.122 Prohibition of premiums on grant or assignment of rights under restricted contracts. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Charging illegal premiums on restricted tenancy contractsAny Person

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)

s.124 Punishment of attempts to obtain from prospective tenants excessive prices for furniture. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Charge excessive furniture prices or fail to provide inventory for tenanciesAny Person

Fine up to £1,000 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)

s.126 Avoidance of requirements for advance payment of rent in certain cases. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Impose illegal advance rent requirementsAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 10

Mortgages

2 of 4 sections shown
Part 11

General

10 of 19 sections shown
s.139 Obligation to notify sublettings of dwelling-houses let on or subject to protected or statutory tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to notify landlord of a sub-tenancyAny Person

Fine up to £200

s.148 Implied term in all protected tenancies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Allow your landlord access for repairsAny Person
s.151 Service of notices on landlord’s agents. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to disclose landlord's contact detailsLandlord

Fine up to £2,500

9 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules

Schedules

11 of 226 shown
s.sch001 Statutory Tenancies (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Demand illegal payment for giving up a statutory tenancyAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch001 (1) Any person who requires the payment of any pecuniary... Prosecution
  • Demand payment for assigning a statutory tenancyAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch010 Rent Assessment Committees (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must maintain and staff Rent Assessment CommitteesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch010 The Welsh Ministers shall draw up and from time to... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must maintain a panel of rent assessment committee chairmen and membersCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch010 No appointment of a person to the panel by the... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Lord Chancellor must not appoint rent assessment panel members beyond age 75Crown / Minister / Government department
s.sch010 The Welsh Ministers shall nominate one of the persons appointed... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must nominate Rent Assessment Panel president and vice-presidentsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch011 Applications for Registration of Rent (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to provide information to a rent assessment committeeLandlord

Fine up to £100

s.sch011 Where a rent has been registered or confirmed by the... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent officer must notify landlord and tenant of registered rentCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch011 (1) A rent assessment committee to whom a matter is... Prosecution
  • Fail to comply with information request from rent assessment committeeLandlord

Fine up to £100

s.sch011 A rent assessment committee shall make such inquiry, if any,... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent assessment committee must consider information and representations from partiesTribunal / Court
s.sch011 This Schedule has effect subject to article 2 of the... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal must not confirm rent above maximum fair rentTribunal / Court
215 other schedules
s.sch001 Paragraph 2 . . . below shall have effect, subject...
s.sch001 (1) Where after a succession the successor becomes the tenant...
s.sch001 (1) Paragraphs 5 to 8 above do not apply where—...
s.sch001 In this Part of this Schedule “ the operative date...
s.sch001 (1) A statutory tenant of a dwelling-house who, as a...
s.sch001 (1) Where it is so agreed in writing between a...
s.sch001 The surviving spouse , or surviving civil partner, (if any)...
s.sch001 (1) Where paragraph 2 above does not apply, but a...
s.sch001 A person who becomes the statutory tenant of a dwelling-house...
s.sch001 If, immediately before his death, the first successor was still...
s.sch001 (1) Where a person who— (a) was a member of...
s.sch001 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch001 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch001 Paragraphs 5 to 8 above do not apply where the...
s.sch002 In determining whether the condition in section 12(1)(c) of this...
s.sch002 During any period when— (a) in the interest of the...
s.sch002 (1) The tenancy referred to in section 12(1) fails within...
s.sch002 Throughout any period which, by virtue of paragraph 1 above,...
s.sch002 For the purposes of section 12, a building is a...
s.sch002 For the purposes of section 12, a person shall be...
s.sch002 (1) In any case where— (a) a tenancy which, by...
s.sch002 If, in a case where a tenancy becomes a protected...
s.sch005 For the purposes of this Act, the amount of rates...
s.sch005 In this Schedule “the relevant rating period”, in relation to...
s.sch005 The amount of the rates for any rental period which...
s.sch005 (1) On the making, by the authority levying the rates,...
s.sch005 If, as a result of the settlement of a proposal,...
s.sch005 In computing the rates for any rental period for the...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to a regulated tenancy—
s.sch007 (1) Where, at 22nd March 1973, Article 10 of the...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to a contractual period the rent...
s.sch007 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch010 Rent Assessment Committees
s.sch010 The panel shall consist of a number of persons appointed...
s.sch010 Subject to this Schedule, the number of rent assessment committees...
s.sch010 Subject to paragraphs 5A, 6 and 6A below, each rent...
s.sch010 A member of the First-tier Tribunal may, at the request...
s.sch010 A member of a tribunal listed in section 59 of...
s.sch010 The president of the panel may, if he thinks fit,...
s.sch010 When dealing with an application under section 81A of this...
s.sch010 There shall be paid to members of the panel such...
s.sch010 The Welsh Ministers may, . . ., provide for the...
s.sch010 The President of the panel may appoint, with the approval...
s.sch010 There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament—...
s.sch011 On receiving any application for the registration of a rent,...
s.sch011 (1) Where the application is made jointly by the landlord...
s.sch011 (1) In the case of an application which does not...
s.sch011 If, after service of a notice by the rent officer...
s.sch011 (1) Where, in response to a notice served by the...
s.sch011 After considering, in accordance with paragraph 4 above, what rent...
s.sch011 (1) If such an objection as is mentioned in paragraph...
s.sch011 Where, within the period specified in paragraph 7(1)(b) above, or...
s.sch011 Outcome of determination of fair rent by appropriate tribunal
s.sch011 Interim registration of rent
s.sch014 (1) This paragraph applies in any case where—
s.sch014 (1) If, in a case where either a tenancy has...
s.sch014 (1) This paragraph applies for the purposes of the application...
s.sch014 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch014 (1) This paragraph has effect with respect to the application...
s.sch014 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch014 In the application of section 70 of this Act in...
s.sch014 In this Schedule “the 1972 Act” means the Housing Finance...
s.sch015 For the purposes of section 98(1)(a) of this Act, a...
s.sch015 (1) Where no such certificate as is mentioned in paragraph...
s.sch015 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 4 above, the relevant...
s.sch015 Accommodation shall not be deemed to be suitable to the...
s.sch015 Any document purporting to be a certificate of a local...
s.sch015 In this Part “ local housing authority ” and “...
s.sch015 Where the dwelling-house was let by a person (in this...
s.sch016 Any document purporting to be a certificate of the local...
s.sch016 In this Case no account shall be taken of accommodation...
s.sch016 In this Case and in Case II below “ the...
s.sch017 In this Schedule— “converted tenancy” means a tenancy which has...
s.sch017 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch017 In relation to any rental period beginning after the conversion,...
s.sch017 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch017 Section 5(1) of this Act shall not apply to the...
s.sch017 Section 70 of this Act shall apply in relation to...
s.sch017 None of the enactments mentioned in section 18A of this...
s.sch017 Any court order in any proceedings to which paragraph 7...
s.sch017 Any right conferred on a tenant by section 38 of,...
s.sch018 (1) This Part of this Schedule applies where—
s.sch018 In determining for the purposes of this Part of this...
s.sch018 In this Part of this Schedule “grant” includes continuance and...
s.sch018 In a case where this Part of this Schedule applies,...
s.sch018 (1) If, although the registered rent is higher than the...
s.sch018 Where any rates in respect of the dwelling-house are borne...
s.sch018 (1) Any reference in this Part of this Schedule to...
s.sch018 Where this Part of this Schedule applies to any tenancy...
s.sch018 (1) The fraction is X Y where X is the...
s.sch018 Where the tenancy was granted on the surrender of a...
s.sch018 For the purposes of paragraph 8 above, the surrender value...
s.sch020 (1) This paragraph applies where a dwelling which is the...
s.sch020 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to a dwelling-house consisting...
s.sch020 (1) This paragraph applies where, in the case of any...
s.sch020 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch020 In this Schedule— “contractual period” means a rental period of...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 23 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 2(5) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954...
s.sch023 In section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 In section 10(2) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 In section 12(1)(b) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954...
s.sch023 In section 22(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 In section 40(5) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 In section 43(1)(c) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 In paragraph 17 of Schedule 1, and in paragraph 4...
s.sch023 In section 4(2) of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 In Schedule 3 to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954,...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 15 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 16 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In sections 1(4) and 4(1)(a) of the Leasehold Reform Act...
s.sch023 In section 16(1)(d) of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, for...
s.sch023 In section 37(6) of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, for...
s.sch023 In Schedule 2 to the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, in...
s.sch023 In Schedule 5 to the Leasehold Reform Act 1967—
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 28 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971—
s.sch023 In section 17 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 In section 34 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, for...
s.sch023 In Schedule 2 to the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, in...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 24 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1972,...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 18(1) of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 In section 17(6) of the Rent Act 1974, for the...
s.sch023 In Schedule 1 to the Rent Act 1974—
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 19 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch023 In section 4(5) of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, for...
s.sch023 In section 5 of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976—
s.sch023 In section 9 of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976—
s.sch023 In section 13 of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976—
s.sch023 In section 15(4) of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, for...
s.sch023 In sections 19, 27(2) and 33(3), and in the definition...
s.sch023 In paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Rent (Agriculture)...
s.sch023 In paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Rent (Agriculture)...
s.sch023 In section 20 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch023 For paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Rent (Agriculture)...
s.sch023 In paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the Rent (Agriculture)...
s.sch023 In Schedule 4 to the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976—
s.sch023 In Schedule 5 to the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, in...
s.sch023 In Schedule 6 to the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976—
s.sch023 In section 22 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection...
s.sch024 (1) In so far as anything done, or having effect...
s.sch024 Any registration of a rent under Part IV of the...
s.sch024 In the case of a registration of a rent before...
s.sch024 Where, by virtue of section 1(1)(b) of the Rent Act...
s.sch024 If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a person’s...
s.sch024 If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a person’s...
s.sch024 In relation to any time before 1st January 1960, paragraph...
s.sch024 Sections 44(1), 45(2), 57 and 72(7) of this Act shall...
s.sch024 If, immediately before the revocation of regulation 68CB of the...
s.sch024 Section 54 of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 9 to,...
s.sch024 (1) Until such time as the provisions mentioned in sub-paragraph...
s.sch024 (1) If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a...
s.sch024 For the purposes of paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 9 to...
s.sch024 Subject to the provisions of this Act, any reference in...
s.sch024 If the rent recoverable under a controlled tenancy for any...
s.sch024 If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, an agreement...
s.sch024 (1) If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, the...
s.sch024 (1) If, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a...
s.sch024 Where any increase in the rent recoverable under a controlled...
s.sch024 (1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the Rent...
s.sch024 (1) Section 47 of the Housing Act 1969 (first registration...
s.sch024 Subsections (2) and (5) of section 48 of this Act...
s.sch024 (1) A person who, at any time before the commencement...
s.sch024 Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the Rent Act...
s.sch024 Any registration of a rent made before the commencement of...
s.sch024 Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of paragraphs 20 to...
s.sch024 A statutory tenancy subsisting at the commencement of this Act...
s.sch024 (1) This paragraph applies where the tenancy of a dwelling-house...
s.sch024 (1) In any case where— (a) before 14th August 1974...
s.sch024 (1) This paragraph applies where the tenancy of a dwelling-house...
s.sch024 (1) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a...
s.sch024 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to a regulated tenancy...
s.schedule/15/part/i/crossheading/case/10_paragraph/ Where the court is satisfied that the rent charged by...
s.schedule/15/part/i/crossheading/case/1_paragraph/w Where any rent lawfully due from the tenant has not...
s.schedule/15/part/i/crossheading/case/6_paragraph/w Where, without the consent of the landlord, the tenant has,...
s.schedule/15/part/i/crossheading/case/7_paragraph/w . . . . . . . . . ....
s.schedule/15/part/i/crossheading/case/9_paragraph/w Where the dwelling-house is reasonably required by the landlord for...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/11_paragraph Where a person (in this Case referred to as “the...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/12_paragraph Where the landlord (in this Case referred to as “the...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/13_paragraph Where the dwelling-house is let under a tenancy for a...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/14_paragraph Where the dwelling-house is let under a tenancy for a...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/15_paragraph Where the dwelling-house is held for the purpose of being...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/16_paragraph Where the dwelling-house was at any time occupied by a...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/17_paragraph Where proposals for amalgamation, approved for the purposes of a...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/18_paragraph Where— (a) the last occupier of the dwelling-house before the...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/19_paragraph Where the dwelling-house was let under a protected shorthold tenancy...
s.schedule/15/part/ii/crossheading/case/19_paragraph A notice is appropriate for this Case if— it is...
sch. 16 para. 3 sch. 16 para. 3 Regulated
  • Provide suitable alternative accommodation for possessionLandlord
sch. 16 para. 4 sch. 16 para. 4 Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local housing authority must include assurance of suitable alternative accommodation in time-limited offersLocal authority
32 other provisions
sch. 15 para. 1 sch. 15 para. 1
s.016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
s.para.216 Where the tenant or any person residing or lodging with...
s.para.217 Where the condition of the dwelling-house has, in the opinion...
s.para.218 Where the condition of any furniture provided for use under...
s.para.219 Where the tenant has given notice to quit and, in...
s.para.222 Where the dwelling-house is reasonably required by the landlord for...
s.para.225 Both of the following conditions are met in relation to...
s.para.226 Condition 1 is that the Secretary of State has given...
s.para.227 Condition 2 is that the person or persons named in...
s.para.228 For the purposes of this case a person (“P”) is...
s.para.229 P does not have a right to rent in relation...
s.para.230 But P is to be treated as having a right...
s.para.231 In this case “ relevant national ” means—
s.para.243 For the purposes of this Case “regular armed forces of...

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.