UK Act of Parliament 1977 United Kingdom

Rent Act 1977

View on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

What's here

31 compliance obligations

Penalty landscape

8 of 31 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 7 carry different penalties and 16 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 10
  • Landlord 7
  • Director or Officer 1

Plus 13 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Landlords also bound by 70 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 229 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — Preliminary

Browse 26 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.005

Certain shared ownership leases.

s.016

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.018

Modification of Act for controlled tenancies converted into regulated tenancies.

Part II — Rents Under Controlled Tenancies

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part III — Rents under Regulated Tenancies

Browse 17 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IV — Registration of Rents Under Regulated Tenancies

s.064

s.64A

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State may amalgamate rent officer registration areas Crown / Minister / Government department
s.065

Rent assessment committees.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Establishment of rent assessment committees for Wales Crown / Minister / Government department
s.070

Determination of fair rent.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent Officer must follow specific rules to determine a fair rent Statutory regulator
s.070

Interim determination of fair rent on application under section 67A

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent officer must determine fair rent increases related to council tax Statutory regulator
s.072

Amounts attributable to services.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rent officer or tribunal must record service charges in the rent register Statutory regulator
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.064

s.64B

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 V — Rents Under Restricted Contracts

s.079

Register of rents under restricted contracts relating to dwellings in England

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Property Chamber must maintain a register of restricted rent contracts Tribunal / Court
s.081

Cancellation of registration of rent.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal must cancel rent registration on application Tribunal / Court
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.080

Reference before 1st April 1994 for interim increase of rent in certain cases where lessor liable for council tax

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

Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VII — Security of Tenure

s.106

Discretion of court in certain proceedings for possession.

Amended 2 times
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.102

Restricted application of sections 103 to 106.

Part VIII — Conversion of Controlled Tenancies into Regulated Tenancies

Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IX — Premiums, Etc.

Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part X — Mortgages

Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part XI — General

Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

s.sch001

Statutory Tenancies

Fine up to £1,000
  • Demand illegal payment for giving up a statutory tenancy Any Person
s.sch010

Rent Assessment Committees

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must maintain and staff Rent Assessment Committees Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 223 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
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

(1) Any person who requires the payment of any pecuniary...

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

The Welsh Ministers shall draw up and from time to...

s.sch010

Rent Assessment Committees

s.sch010

The panel shall consist of a number of persons appointed...

s.sch010

No appointment of a person to the panel by the...

s.sch010

The Welsh Ministers shall nominate one of the 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

Where a rent has been registered or confirmed by the...

s.sch011

(1) If such an objection as is mentioned in paragraph...

s.sch011

(1) A rent assessment committee to whom a matter is...

s.sch011

Where, within the period specified in paragraph 7(1)(b) above, or...

s.sch011

A rent assessment committee shall make such inquiry, if any,...

s.sch011

Outcome of determination of fair rent by appropriate tribunal

s.sch011

Interim registration of rent

s.sch011

This Schedule has effect subject to article 2 of the...

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...

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.