Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003

Part 2SThe community right to buy

Chapter 1SGeneral extent of community right to buy

33[F1Land in respect of which community interest may be registered]S

(1)F2... A community interest may be registered under this Part of this Act [F3in] any land other than excluded land.

(2)In subsection (1) above, “excluded land” means land [F4consisting of a separate tenement which is owned separately from the land in respect of which it is exigible (subject to subsection (2A))].

[F5(2A)Land consisting of—

(a)salmon fishings, or

(b)mineral rights (other than rights to oil, coal, gas, gold or silver),

which are owned separately from the land in respect of which they are exigible is not “excluded land” (and so is land in which a community interest may be registered under this Part).]

F6(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34Community bodiesS

[F7(A1)A community body is, subject to subsection (4)—

(a)a body falling within subsection (1), (1A) or (1B), or

(b)a body of such other description as may be prescribed which complies with prescribed requirements.]

(1)A [F8body falls within this subsection if it is], a company limited by guarantee the [F9articles of association] of which include the following—

(a)a definition of the community to which the company relates;

(b)provision enabling the company to exercise the right to buy land under this Part of this Act;

(c)provision that the company must have not fewer than [F1010] members;

[F11(d)provision that at least three quarters of the members of the company are members of the community,]

(e)provision whereby the members of the company who consist of members of the community have control of the company;

(f)provision ensuring proper arrangements for the financial management of the company F12...;

[F13(fa)provision that, on the request of any person for a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the company, the company must, if the request is reasonable, give the person within 28 days of the request a copy of those minutes,

(fb)provision that, where a request of the type mentioned in paragraph (fa) is made, the company—

(i)may withhold information contained in the minutes, and

(ii)if it does so, must inform the person requesting a copy of the minutes of its reasons for doing so,]

(g)provision that any surplus funds or assets of the company are to be applied for the benefit of the community; and

(h)provision that, on the winding up of the company and after satisfaction of its liabilities, its property (including any land acquired by it under this Part of this Act) passes—

(i)to such other community body [F14, crofting community body or Part 3A community body (as defined in section 97D)] as may be approved by Ministers; or

(ii)if no other community body [F15, crofting community body or Part 3A community body (as so defined)] is so approved, to Ministers or to such charity as Ministers may direct.

[F16(1A) A body falls within this subsection if it is a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation (a “ SCIO ”) the constitution of which includes the following—

(a) a definition of the community to which the SCIO relates,

(b) provision enabling the SCIO to exercise the right to buy land under this Part,

(c) provision that the SCIO must have not fewer than 10 members,

(d) provision that at least three quarters of the members of the SCIO are members of the community,

(e) provision under which the members of the SCIO who consist of members of the community have control of the SCIO ,

(f) provision ensuring proper arrangements for the financial management of the SCIO ,

(g) provision that, on the request of any person for a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the SCIO , the SCIO must, if the request is reasonable, give the person within 28 days of the request a copy of those minutes,

(h) provision that, where a request of the type mentioned in paragraph (g) is made, the SCIO —

(i)may withhold information contained in the minutes, and

(ii)if it does so, must inform the person requesting a copy of the minutes of its reasons for doing so, and

(i) provision that any surplus funds or assets of the SCIO are to be applied for the benefit of the community.

(1B)A body falls within this subsection if it is a community benefit society the registered rules of which include the following—

(a)a definition of the community to which the society relates,

(b)provision enabling the society to exercise the right to buy land under this Part,

(c)provision that the society must have not fewer than 10 members,

(d)provision that at least three quarters of the members of the society are members of the community,

(e)provision under which the members of the society who consist of members of the community have control of the society,

(f)provision ensuring proper arrangements for the financial management of the society,

(g)provision that, on the request of any person for a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the society, the society must, if the request is reasonable, give the person within 28 days of the request a copy of those minutes,

(h)provision that, where a request of the type mentioned in paragraph (g) is made, the society—

(i)may withhold information contained in the minutes, and

(ii)if it does so, must inform the person requesting a copy of the minutes of its reasons for doing so, and

(i)provision that any surplus funds or assets of the society are to be applied for the benefit of the community.]

(2)Ministers may, if they think it in the public interest to do so, disapply the requirement specified in subsection (1)(c)[F17, (1A)(c) or (1B)(c)] above in relation to any body they may specify.

(3)In subsection (1) above, “company limited by guarantee” has [F18the meaning given by section 3(3) of the Companies Act 2006].

(4)A body is not a community body unless Ministers have given it written confirmation that they are satisfied that the main purpose of the body is consistent with furthering the achievement of sustainable development.

[F19(4A)Ministers may by regulations from time to time amend subsections (1), (1A) and (1B).

(4B)If provision is made under subsection (A1)(b), Ministers may by regulations make such amendment of section 35(A1) and (1) in consequence of that provision as they consider necessary or expedient.]

(5)F20... A community—

(a)shall be defined for the purposes of [F21subsections (1)(a), (1A)(a) and (1B)(a)] above by reference to a postcode unit or postcode units [F22or a prescribed type of area (or both such unit and type of area)]; and

(b)shall comprise the persons from time to time—

(i)resident in that postcode unit or in one of those postcode units [F23or in that prescribed type of area]; and

(ii)entitled to vote, at a local government election, in a polling district which includes that postcode unit or those postcode units [F24or that prescribed type of area] (or part of it or them).

(6)In subsection (5) above, “postcode unit” means an area in relation to which a single postcode is used to facilitate the identification of postal service delivery points within the area.

(7)The [F25articles] of a company which is a community body may, notwithstanding the generality of paragraph (h) of subsection (1) above, provide that its property may, in the circumstances mentioned in that paragraph, pass to another person only if that person is a charity.

(8)In this section[F26—]

• “charity” means a body [F27entered in the Scottish Charity Register]

• [F28 “ community benefit society ” means a registered society (within the meaning of section 1 of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014) registered as a community benefit society under section 2 of that Act,

• “ registered rules ” has the meaning given by section 149 of that Act (as that meaning applies in relation to community benefit societies),

• “Scottish charitable incorporated organisation” has the meaning given by section 49 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005].

35Provisions supplementary to section 34S

[F29(A1)During the relevant period, a community body which modifies its memorandum, articles of association, constitution or registered rules (as defined in section 34(8)) must, as soon as possible after such modification, notify the Scottish Ministers in writing of the modification.]

[F30(A2)In subsection (A1), “relevant period” means the period—

(a)beginning on the day on which the community body submits an application under section 37(1) for registration of a community interest in land, and

(b)ending with—

(i)registration of the community interest in land,

(ii)a decision by Ministers that the community interest in land should not be registered,

(iii)Ministers declining, by virtue of section 39(5), to consider the application, or

(iv)withdrawal of the application.]

[F31(1)A community body—

(a)which—

(i)has registered a community interest in land under this Part and remains so registered, or

(ii)has bought land under this Part, any part of which remains in its ownership, and

(b)which modifies its memorandum, articles of association, constitution or registered rules (as defined in section 34(8)),

must, as soon as possible after such modification, notify the Scottish Ministers in writing of the modification.]

(2)If Ministers are satisfied that a body which has registered a community interest is no longer a community body, they may direct the Keeper to delete that interest from the Register.

(3)If Ministers are satisfied that a body which has, under this Part of this Act, bought land would, had it not so bought that land, no longer be entitled to do so, they may acquire the land compulsorily.

[F32(4)Where the power conferred by subsection (3) is (or is to be) exercised in relation to land, Ministers may make an order relating to, or to matters connected with, the acquisition of the land.

(5)An order under subsection (4) may—

(a)apply, modify or exclude any enactment which relates to any matter as to which an order could be made under that subsection,

(b)make such modifications of enactments as appear to Ministers to be necessary or expedient in consequence of any provision of the order or otherwise in connection with the order.]

36Register of Community Interests in LandS

(1)The Keeper shall set up and keep a register, to be known as the Register of Community Interests in Land (the “Register”).

(2)The Register shall be set up and kept so as to contain, in a manner and form convenient for public inspection, the following information and documents relating to each community interest registered in it—

(a)[F33where the community body which has registered the interest is constituted by a company limited by guarantee,] the name and address of the registered office of the company F34...;

[F35(aa) where the community body which has registered the interest is constituted by a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation within the meaning given in section 34(8) (a “ SCIO ”), the name and address of the principal office of the SCIO ,

(ab)where the community body which has registered the interest is constituted by a community benefit society as defined in section 34(8), the name and address of the registered office of the society,]

(b)a copy of the application for registration under section 37 below;

(c)a copy of the notice of prohibition under section 37(5)(e) below;

(d)a copy of the notice sent under section 37(17) below of Ministers' decision that the interest is to be entered in the Register;

(e)the date of registration;

(f)a description of the land, including maps, plans or other drawings (prepared to such specifications as are prescribed);

(g)the date when the registration will, under section 44 below, cease to have effect;

(h)the date of any deletion of the interest under section 45 or 54 below;

(i)a copy of any notification under section 48 below;

(j)a copy of any notice sent under section 49 below;

(k)a copy of any confirmation received in pursuance of that section;

(l)a copy of any notice sent under section 50(3) below;

(m)a copy of any decision as to consent given under section 51 below;

(n)a copy of any notice given under section 54 below;

(o)in the case of each copy document referred to in this subsection, the date of the original;

(p)such other information as Ministers consider appropriate.

(3)If, however, the community body registering an interest requires that any such information or document relating to that interest and within subsection (4) below as is specified in the requirement be withheld from public inspection, that information or document shall be kept by or on behalf of Ministers separately from and not entered in the Register.

(4)Information or a document is within this subsection if it relates to arrangements for the raising or expenditure of money to enable the land in which the interest is registered to be put to a particular use.

(5)Nothing in subsection (3) or (4) above obliges an applicant community body, or empowers Ministers to require such a body, to submit to Ministers any information or document within subsection (4) above.

[F36(5A)Subsection (5B) applies where—

(a)a community body changes its name,

(b)a community body which is constituted by a company limited by guarantee or by a community benefit society changes the address of its registered office, or

(c) a community body which is constituted by a SCIO changes the address of its principal office.

(5B)The community body must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the change is made, notify the Keeper of the change.]

(6)Ministers may by order modify paragraphs (a) to (o) of subsection (2) or subsections (3) or (4) above.

(7)The Keeper shall ensure—

(a)that the Register is, at all reasonable times, available for public inspection free of charge;

(b)that members of the public are given facilities for getting copies of entries in the Register on payment of such charges as may be prescribed; and

(c)that any person requesting it is, on payment of such a charge, supplied with an extract entry certified to be a true copy of the original.

(8)An extract so certified is sufficient evidence of the original.

(9)In this Part of this Act “the Keeper” means—

(a)the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland; or

(b)such other person as Ministers may appoint to carry out the Keeper’s functions under this Part of the Act.

(10)Different persons may be so appointed for different purposes.

Chapter 2SRegistration of interests

37Registration of interest in landS

(1)A community interest in land may be registered only upon an application made by a community body to Ministers in the prescribed form and accompanied by information of the prescribed kind, including information (provided, where appropriate, by or by reference to maps or drawings) about the location and boundaries of the land.

(2)Where there is a standard security over an interest in any land to which the application relates the community body shall, at the same time as it applies, provide Ministers with notice, in the prescribed form, of that fact.

(3)Where an applicant community body satisfies Ministers that the owner of the land in which a community interest is sought to be registered or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security over any part of that land is unknown or cannot be found, Ministers shall be relieved of their duties under subsections (5) to (10), and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (17), below in so far as those duties relate to the owner or, as the case may be, creditor.

(4)Ministers shall not be satisfied under subsection (3) above unless the community body has given public notice of the proposed application by—

(a)placing an advertisement, in two consecutive weeks, in a local newspaper circulating in the area where the land in which a community interest is sought [F37to be registered] is situated; and

(b)[F38(except in the case of a proposed application of the type mentioned in subsection (4B))] affixing a conspicuous notice in the prescribed form to a part of that land.

[F39(4A)Ministers are not to be satisfied under subsection (3) in relation to a proposed application of the type mentioned in subsection (4B) unless the applicant community body has given public notice of the proposed application by advertising it in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4B)The type of proposed application is one to register a community interest in land consisting of salmon fishings, or mineral rights, which are owned separately from the land in respect of which they are exigible.]

(5)On receipt of an application, Ministers shall—

(a)send a copy of the application and the accompanying information to the owner of the land and to any creditor in a standard security over an interest in the land;

(b)invite the owner of the land to send them, so as to be received not later than 21 days after the sending of the invitation, views in writing on the application;

(c)where there is a standard security over an interest in any land to which the application relates, invite the creditor in the security—

(i)to notify the community body and Ministers, within 21 days of receipt of the invitation, if any of the circumstances set out in subsection (6) below has arisen (or arises within 21 days of receipt of the invitation); and

(ii)if such notice is given, to provide Ministers, within that time, with the creditor’s views in writing on the application;

(d)send a copy of the invitation under paragraph (b) above and a copy of any invitation under paragraph (c) above to the community body; and

(e)by notice sent to—

(i)the owner of the land; and

(ii)any creditor in a standard security over an interest in the land,

prohibit the owner and any such creditor from taking, during the period beginning with the date on which the owner or, as the case may be, the creditor receives the notice and ending on the date on which Ministers determine whether an interest is to be registered, any action which, if the interest had been registered, would be prohibited under section 40(1) below.

(6)The circumstances referred to in subsection (5)(c) above are that—

(a)a calling-up notice has been served by the creditor under section 19 of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 (c. 35) in relation to the land in which the community body is seeking to register an interest or any part of that land and that notice has not been complied with;

(b)a notice of default served by the creditor under section 21 of that Act in relation to that land or any part of that land has not been complied with and the person on whom the notice was served has not, within the period specified in section 22 of that Act, objected to the notice by way of application to the court;

(c)where that person has so objected, the court has upheld or varied the notice of default; and

(d)the court has granted the creditor a warrant under section 24 of that Act in relation to that land or any part of that land.

(7)Ministers shall send a copy of—

(a)each application received by them, together with a copy of the accompanying information;

(b)each notice sent under subsection (5)(e) above, [F40and

(c)any notice sent under section 44A,]

to the Keeper.

(8)A transfer in breach of a prohibition imposed under subsection (5)(e) above is of no effect.

(9)Ministers shall—

(a)send a copy of any timeous response to an invitation given under subsection (5)(b) or (c) above to the community body; and

(b)invite it to send them, so as to be received not later than 21 days after the invitation under this subsection, its views in writing on that response.

(10)Ministers shall take any views timeously sent to them under this section into account when considering whether the community interest to which those views relate should be entered in the Register.

(11)Ministers shall decline to consider an application that—

(a)does not comply with the requirements of or imposed under this section;

(b)is otherwise incomplete;

(c)discloses that any land to which it relates is [F41excluded land as defined in section 33(2) above]; or

(d)otherwise indicates that it is one which Ministers would be bound to reject;

and Ministers shall be relieved of their duties under subsections (5) to (10) above, and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (17) below, in relation to such an application.

(12)Declinature of an application is, for the purposes of subsection (17) below, to be regarded as a decision not to enter the community interest in the Register.

(13)More than one community interest may be registered in respect of the same land.

(14)A community body may, subject to subsection (15) below, register an interest in more than one holding of land.

(15)An application under subsection (1) above may relate to only one holding of land.

(16)In subsections (14) and (15) above, a “holding” of land is land in the ownership of one person or in common or joint ownership.

(17)Ministers shall, within 63 days of receiving an application under subsection (1) above, send notice of their decision whether or not the community interest is to be entered in the Register together with a statement of their reasons—

(a)to the applicant community body;

(b)to the owner of the land; and

(c)where a creditor in a standard security has notified Ministers timeously in response to an invitation given under subsection (5)(c)(i) above, to the creditor.

(18)A notice under subsection (17) above shall—

(a)contain information about the effect of registration of a community interest or, as the case may be, of Ministers' decision that such an interest is not to be entered in the Register and about the rights of appeal under section 61 below; and

[F42(aa)where the decision is that such an interest is to be entered in the Register, contain information about the duties imposed under section 44A,]

(b)be in the prescribed form.

(19)Any failure to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (17) above [F43, including that subsection as modified by section 39(2)(b) below,] does not affect the validity of anything done under this section.

(20)Where Ministers decide that a community interest is to be entered in the Register they shall direct the Keeper to so enter the interest with effect from the date on which Ministers made the decision.

38Criteria for registrationS

(1)Ministers shall not decide that a community interest is to be entered in the Register unless they are satisfied—

F44(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)that [F45the acquisition of the land by the community body to which the application relates is compatible with furthering the achievement of sustainable development, and that]—

(i)a significant number of the members of the community F46... have a F47... connection with the land; F48...

(ii)the land is sufficiently near to land with which those members of [F49the] community have a F50... connection F51...;

[F52(iii)where the community body is a body mentioned in section 34(A1)(a), the land is in or sufficiently near to the area of the community by reference to which the community is defined as mentioned in section 34(5)(a), or

(iv)where the community body is a body mentioned in section 34(A1)(b), the land is in or sufficiently near to the area of the community to which the body relates,]

(c)where the land is salmon fishings or mineral rights, that the community body—

(i)has registered or is registering an interest in; or

(ii)has acquired or is acquiring,

other land containing or contiguous to the waters in which those salmon fishings exist or the land in which those mineral rights are exigible;

(d)that there is within the community a level of support sufficient to justify such registration; and

(e)that it is in the public interest that the community interest be so registered.

(2)[F53Subject to subsection (2A) below,] for the purposes of subsection (1)(d) above, Ministers—

(a)shall regard an indication of the approval of one tenth or more of the members of the community; and

(b)may regard an indication of the approval of less than one tenth of those members,

as signifying a sufficient level of support.

[F54(2A)Ministers may not take into account, for the purposes of subsection (2), the approval of a member of the community if the approval was indicated earlier than 6 months before the date on which the application to register the community interest in land to which the approval relates was made.

(2B)Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (2A) so as to substitute for the period of time for the time being specified there a different period of time (not being less than 6 months).]

(3)References in this section to the community are, as respects a community body, references to the community defined in relation to that body under section 34(1)(a)[F55, (1A)(a) or (1B)(a), or where that body is a body mentioned in section 34(A1)(b), the community to which that body relates].

39Procedure for late applicationsS

[F56(1)This section (other than subsections (4A) and (5)) applies in relation to an application to register a community interest in land which satisfies—

(a)the conditions mentioned in subsection (1A), or

(b)the condition mentioned in subsection (1B).

(1A)The conditions are that—

(a)before the date on which the application is received by Ministers, the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land has taken action which, if a community interest had been registered, would be prohibited under section 40(1), and

(b)on the date on which the application is received by Ministers—

(i)missives for the sale and purchase of the land in pursuance of that action have not been concluded, or

(ii)an option to acquire the land in pursuance of that action has not been conferred.

(1B)The condition is that, where another community body has registered an interest in the land, the application is received by Ministers—

(a)after the date on which the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land has, under section 48(1), notified that community body that a transfer is proposed, and

(b)before Ministers have consented, under section 51(1), to a transfer to that community body.]

(2)Where this section applies in relation to an application—

(a)the owner of the land or, as the case may be, such a creditor shall, on receipt of an invitation under section 37 above, inform Ministers that this section applies; and

[F57(aa)Ministers may, before the end of the period of 7 days following receipt of the views of the owner of the land or, as the case may be, such a creditor under that section, request—

(i)the owner, such a creditor or the community body making the application to provide such further information as they consider necessary in connection with their being informed as mentioned in paragraph (a), and

(ii)that the further information be supplied within 14 days of the request,]

(b)the procedure for registering community interests in land set out in section 37 above is, for the purposes of the application, subject to the following modifications—

(i)paragraph (b) of subsection (9) does not apply; and

(ii)in subsection (17), for “63” there is substituted “30” [F58or (in a case where further information is requested under paragraph (aa)) “44”].

(3)Where this section applies in relation to an application, Ministers shall not decide that a community interest is to be entered in the Register unless they are (additionally to the matters as to which they are to be satisfied under section 38 above) satisfied—

[F59(a)that—

(i)such relevant work as Ministers consider reasonable was carried out by a person, or

(ii)such relevant steps as Ministers consider reasonable were taken by a person,

(aa)that the relevant work was carried out or the relevant steps were taken—

(i)at a time which, in the opinion of Ministers, was sufficiently in advance of the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor taking the action such as is mentioned in subsection (1A), or giving notice such as is mentioned in subsection (1B),

(ii)in respect of land with a view to the land being used for purposes that are the same as those proposed for the land in relation to which the application relates, and

(iii)by the community body making the application or by another person with a view to the application being made by the community body,

(ab)that—

(i)in the period of 12 months before the application is received by Ministers, the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor taking the action such as is mentioned in subsection (1A) did not make an offer to sell the land to the community body or a similar community body, or

(ii)in that 12 month period, the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor did make an offer to sell the land to the community body or a similar community body and, in the opinion of Ministers, there are good reasons why the body did not purchase the land,]

(b)that the level of support within the community for such registration is significantly greater than that which Ministers would, by virtue of subsection (2) of that section, have considered sufficient for the purposes of subsection (1)(d) of that section had the application been received before that action was taken or, as the case may be, the notice was given; and

(c)that the factors bearing on whether it is or is not in the public interest that the community interest be registered are strongly indicative that it is.

[F60(3A)Despite subsection (3), Ministers may decide that a community interest is to be entered in the Register even though the conditions in paragraphs (a) and (aa) of that subsection are not satisfied in relation to the interest, if Ministers are satisfied that there are good reasons—

(a)why the conditions are not satisfied, and

(b)for allowing the interest to be entered in the Register.

(3B)Ministers may, before the end of the period of 7 days following receipt under section 37(5) of the views of the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land, request—

(a)any person they believe may be able to provide them with such further information as they consider necessary in connection with the matters mentioned in subsection (3) to provide the information, and

(b)that the information be supplied within 14 days of the request.]

(4)Where a community interest in land is registered in pursuance of an application in relation to which this section applies—

(a)the owner of the land is, for the purposes of this Part of this Act (other than section 59(4)), deemed to have, on the date on which that interest is so registered, given notice under section 48(1) below that a transfer is proposed;

(b)section 49 below does not apply in so far as it relates to that interest; and

(c)for the purposes of sections 55(2) and (4), 56(3), 59(1)[F61, 60A(1)] and 65(1)(a) below, the community body is deemed to have sent the confirmation which Ministers would, had section 49 below applied, have required to seek under subsection (2)(a) of that section on the date on which the interest is registered.

[F62(4A)Subsection (5) applies in relation to an application to register a community interest in land where the application is received by Ministers after the following have occurred—

(a)the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land has taken action which, if a community interest in land had been registered, would be prohibited under section 40(1), and

(b)either—

(i)missives for the sale and purchase of the land are concluded, or

(ii)an option to acquire the land is conferred.]

(5)F63... Ministers—

(a)shall decline to consider the application; and

(b)shall be relieved of their duties under subsections (5) to (10), and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (17), of section 37 above in relation to that application.

[F64(6)In subsection (3)—

• “ relevant work ” means anything done by way of preparation of an application to register a community interest in land,

• “ relevant steps ” means any steps towards securing ownership of land by a community body.

(7)In subsection (3)(ab)—

(a)references to “the land” include land that is, in the opinion of Ministers, mainly the same as the land to which the application mentioned in that subsection relates,

(b) references to “ an offer ” are references to an offer in writing (or that is confirmed in writing),

(c)a community body is, for the purposes of that subsection, similar to another community body if, in the opinion of Ministers, it is similar to the other body to a significant degree having regard to such matters as may be prescribed.

(8) In subsection (6), “ land ” means any land whether or not it is land in respect of which an application in relation to which this section applies is made.]

[F6539AEvidence and notification of concluded missives or option agreementsS

(1)Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)an application to register a community interest in land is made,

(b)on the date on which the application is received by Ministers—

(i)missives for the sale and purchase of the land have been concluded, or

(ii)an agreement conferring an option to acquire the land exists, and

(c)the application does not disclose that such missives have been concluded or such an agreement exists.

(2)The owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land must, within 21 days of receiving a copy of the application under section 37(5)(a)—

(a)provide Ministers with evidence of the concluded missives or (as the case may be) the agreement,

(b)where there is an agreement such as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(ii) which contains a date on which it will expire—

(i)notify Ministers of that date, and

(ii)provide Ministers with information about whether, and if so how, the agreement is capable of being extended.

(3)Subsection (4) applies where—

(a)an application to register a community interest in land is made,

(b)on the date on which the application is received by Ministers—

(i)missives for the sale and purchase of the land have been concluded, or

(ii)an agreement conferring an option to acquire the land exists,

(c)the application discloses that such missives have been concluded or such an agreement exists, and

(d)accordingly, by virtue of section 39(4A) and (5), no copy of the application is sent to the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land.

(4)Ministers must—

(a)send a copy of the application and the accompanying information to the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor,

(b)notify the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor that Ministers must decline to consider the application by virtue of section 39(5), and

(c)require the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor to provide Ministers with the information mentioned in subsection (5) within 21 days of receipt of the copy of the application sent under paragraph (a).

(5)The information is—

(a)evidence of the concluded missives or, as the case may be, the agreement, and

(b)where there is an agreement such as is mentioned in subsection (3)(b)(ii) which contains a date on which it will expire—

(i)that date, and

(ii)information about whether, and if so how, the agreement is capable of being extended.]

40Effect of registrationS

(1)For so long as a community interest in land is registered the owner of the land, and any creditor in a standard security having a right to sell the land, is prohibited from—

(a)transferring that land (or any land of which that land forms part); or

(b)taking any action with a view to the transfer of that land (or any land of which that land forms part),

except in accordance with this Part of this Act.

(2)A transfer in breach of subsection (1)(a) above is of no effect.

(3)Subsection (1) above operates so as to prohibit transfers of, or other actions in relation to, land in respect of which no community interest has been registered only where that transfer, or action, also relates to land in respect of which a community interest has been registered.

(4)Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to—

(a)a transfer otherwise than for value;

(b)a transfer in implement or pursuance of an order of a court (other than an order under section 24 of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 (c. 35) or a decree in an action for the division and sale of land);

(c)a transfer between spouses [F66or civil partners] in pursuance of an arrangement between them entered into at any time after they have ceased living together;

(d)a transfer of croft land to the crofter tenanting it;

(e)a transfer between companies in the same group;

(f)a transfer to a statutory undertaker for the purpose of carrying on their undertaking;

(g)a transfer—

(i)implementing the compulsory acquisition of the land under an enactment;

(ii)by agreement, of land which could have been acquired compulsorily under an enactment;

(iii)implementing any right conferred by or under this Part or Part 3 of this Act;

F67(iv). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F68(v). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(vi)which requires, or which but for the provisions of section 14 of the 1987 Act would require, the consent of Ministers under subsection (5) or (7) of section 12 of the 1987 Act;

[F69(vii) by a registered social landlord (within the meaning of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 17) ) in pursuance of the power conferred by section 107 of that Act; ]

(viii)vesting the land in a person for the purposes of any enactment relating to sequestration, bankruptcy, winding up or incapacity or to the purposes for which judicial factors may be appointed; and

(h)a transfer of land in consequence of—

(i)the assumption or resignation or death of one or more of the partners in a firm; or

(ii)the assumption or resignation or death of one or more of the trustees of a trust.

(5)Action is taken with a view to a transfer of land when—

(a)the land is, by or with the authority of the owner of the land or a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land, advertised or otherwise exposed for sale;

(b)the owner or such a creditor, or a person acting on behalf of the owner or such a creditor, enters into negotiations with another with a view to the transfer of the land; or

(c)the owner or such a creditor, or a person acting on behalf of the owner or such a creditor, proceeds further with any proposed transfer of the land which was initiated prior to the date on which the interest was registered.

(6)In section 25 of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 (c. 35) (exercise of power of a creditor in a standard security to sell the security subjects), after “may” there is inserted . “ , subject to sections 37(5)(e) or 40(1) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 2) (prohibition of transfer of land registered under that Act except in accordance with its provisions), ”

(7)In subsection (4)(f) above, “statutory undertaker” shall be construed in accordance with section 214 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8).

41Provisions supplementary to and explanatory of section 40S

(1)For the purposes of section 40(4)(e) above, companies are in the same group if they are, or are included in a number of, companies which, by virtue of section 170 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12), together form a group for the purposes of sections 171 to 181 of that Act.

(2)References in subsection (5) of section 40 above to the owner of land include references to the person in whom it has vested for the purposes of any such enactment as is mentioned in subsection (4)(g)(viii) of that section.

[F70(3)Where an owner of land or a creditor in a standard security having a right to sell land makes a transfer of land as mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (h) of subsection (4) of section 40, the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the creditor must within 28 days of the transfer—

(a)notify Ministers of—

(i)the transfer,

(ii)the name and address of the person to whom the land was transferred, and

(iii)the date of the transfer, and

(b)provide Ministers with a description of the land transferred, including maps, plans or other drawings prepared to such specifications as may be prescribed.]

42Power to modify sections 40(4) and (5) and 41S

Ministers may by order modify sections 40(4) and (5) and 41 above or any provision thereof.

43Anti-avoidance provisionsS

(1)A transfer such as is mentioned in paragraph (a), (e) or (h) of subsection (4) of section 40 above is a transfer to which subsection (1) of that section applies if it is or forms part of a scheme or arrangement or is one of a series the main purpose or effect, or one of the main purposes or effects, of which is the avoidance of the requirements or consequences of this Part of this Act.

(2)Where land in respect of which a community interest is registered is being transferred otherwise than by way of a transfer to the community body which registered that interest, the transferor shall incorporate in the deed giving effect to the transfer a declaration—

(a)specifying which provision of subsection (4) of section 40 above operates so as to make the transfer one to which subsection (1) of that section does not apply; and

(b)where the provision so specified is paragraph (a), (e) or (h) of that subsection, stating that the transfer does not form part of a scheme or arrangement, and is not one of a series, such as is mentioned in subsection (1) above.

44Duration and renewal of registrationS

(1)A registered community interest has, subject to subsection (4) below, effect for a period of five years from the date when it was registered.

(2)A community body which has registered a community interest may, at any time within six months before the expiry of that period, apply under section 37 above to re register the interest.

(3)On such an application, Ministers may, subject to section 38 above, direct the Keeper to re-enter the interest in the Register.

(4)An interest so re registered continues to have effect as a registered community interest for a period of five years from the date on which the interest would otherwise have ceased to have effect under this section.

(5)A registered community interest does not cease to have effect on completion of a transfer such as is mentioned in subsection (4) of section 40 above.

[F71(6)The Scottish Ministers must send written notice to a community body which has a registered community interest of the date on which that interest will cease to have effect unless it is re-registered (“the expiry date”).

(7)A notice under subsection (6) must be sent in the period beginning on the day which falls 12 months before the expiry date and ending 28 days after that day.]

[F7244ADuty to notify changes to information relating to registered interestS

(1)This section applies where a community interest in land is registered in pursuance of an application under section 37.

(2)Where—

(a)the application contains information enabling Ministers to contact the community body which made the application, and

(b)there is a change in that information,

the community body must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the change, notify Ministers of the change.

(3)Where—

(a)the application contains information enabling Ministers to contact the owner of the land to which the application relates, and

(b)there is a change in that information,

the owner must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the change, notify Ministers of the change.

(4)Where—

(a)the application contains information relating to a creditor in a standard security over an interest in the land, and

(b)there is a change in that information,

the owner of the land to which the application relates must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the change, notify Ministers of the change.

(5)Subsection (6) applies where—

(a)there is a creditor in a standard security over an interest in the land to which the application relates, but

(b)the application does not disclose the existence of the creditor (whether because the standard security did not exist at the time the application was made or otherwise).

(6)The owner of the land to which the application relates must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the interest in land is registered—

(a)notify Ministers of the existence of the creditor, and

(b)provide Ministers with such information relating to the creditor as would enable Ministers to contact the creditor.

(7)Subsection (8) applies where there is a change in information provided by a community body or an owner of land in pursuance of the duty under subsection (2), (3), (4) or (6).

(8)The community body or, as the case may be, the owner of the land must as soon as reasonably practicable after the change notify Ministers of the change.]

45Deletion of community interest in landS

(1)If Ministers are satisfied that there has, since the date on which they decided that a community interest should be registered, been a change in any matters to the extent that, if the application to register that community interest were made afresh, they would decide that the interest is not to be entered in the Register, they shall direct the Keeper to delete that interest.

(2)Ministers shall not, however, do so without first giving the community body which registered the community interest and the owner of the land an opportunity to state views on the proposed deletion.

46Re-registration of community interestS

Nothing in section 44 or 45 above prevents a community body from applying to register an interest in land in respect of which, or in respect of part of which, it previously had an interest which has—

(a)ceased to have effect under section 44(1) or (4) above; or

(b)been deleted under section 45(1) above.

Chapter 3SActivation of right to buy

47Activation of right to buyS

(1)The right to buy land in which a community interest has been registered arises and may be exercised when the owner of the land or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land gives, or is deemed to have given, notice under section 48(1) below that a transfer is proposed.

(2)That right, however, is exercisable only in relation to particular holdings of land; accordingly, references in this and the following sections of this Part of this Act to land as respects which the right to buy is being exercised, is sought to be exercised or has been exercised are references to such holdings.

(3)Subsection (1) above shall not operate so as to provide a community body with a right to buy any land in respect of which it has not registered an interest in accordance with this Part of this Act.

(4)In subsection (2) above, “holding” has the same meaning as in subsections (14) and (15) of section 37 above.

48Duties on owner, or creditor, proposing to transfer landS

(1)Where the owner of land in respect of which a community interest is registered or, as the case may be, a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell such land proposes to transfer that land (or any land of which that land forms part) by way of a transfer under this Part of this Act, the owner or, as the case may be, such a creditor shall notify that fact to—

(a)the community body, or bodies, in respect of which the interest is registered; and

(b)Ministers.

(2)Notification under subsection (1) above shall be given in such form and otherwise in accordance with such provisions as are prescribed.

(3)Subsection (1) above operates so as to require notification of a proposal to transfer land in respect of which no community interest has been registered only where that proposed transfer also relates to land in respect of which a community interest has been registered.

(4)Where notification under subsection (1) above is given by a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land, references in the following sections of this Part of this Act to the owner of the land shall, for the purposes of determining the procedure which is to apply in respect of the sale of the land by that creditor, be deemed to be references to that creditor.

49Procedure following receipt of notice under section 48S

(1)On receipt of notification under section 48 above from an owner of land, Ministers shall direct the Keeper to enter particulars of the notification in the Register.

(2)Not later than 7 days after such receipt Ministers shall—

(a)send to the community body which has registered the interest in the land a notice in the prescribed form seeking its confirmation in writing that it will exercise its right to buy the land; and

(b)send to the owner of the land a notice in the prescribed form narrating their compliance with paragraph (a) above.

(3)A notice under subsection (2)(a) above shall specify the date referred to in and narrate the effect of subsection (4) below.

(4)If, by the date specified in the notice, being a date not later than 30 days after it was sent, the community body has not caused its confirmation to be received by Ministers, Ministers shall be deemed to have received written notice from the community body under subsection (1) of section 54 below that it will not exercise its right to buy the land and subsections (2) to (4) of that section shall apply accordingly.

(5)Ministers shall send a copy of—

(a)the notice sent under subsection (2)(a) above; and

(b)any confirmation received by them in pursuance of this section,

to the owner of the land and to the Keeper.

(6)Any failure to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (2) above does not affect the validity of anything done under this section.

50Power to activate right to buy land where breach of this PartS

(1)If, on an application made to it by a community body which has registered an interest in land, the Lands Tribunal determine that—

(a)the owner of that land, or a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell that land, has acted in breach of a prohibition under—

(i)subsection (5)(e) of section 37 above; or

(ii)section 40(1) above; and

(b)each of the conditions set out in subsection (2) below is met,

the Tribunal shall notify Ministers of that fact.

(2)Those conditions are—

(a)that the action referred to in subsection (1)(a) above occurred during the period of ten years immediately prior to the date on which the application was made;

F73(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)that the community interest in the land which had been registered, or applied for, before the action referred to in subsection (1)(a) above remains in effect or another has, since then, been registered; and

(d)that Ministers have not, on or after the date on which the action referred to in subsection (1)(a) above occurred, received, or been deemed to have received, written notice under subsection (1) of section 54 below from the community body which had, on that date, registered, or applied to register, an interest in the land.

(3)On receipt of notice under subsection (1) above Ministers shall—

(a)give notice of the Tribunal’s determination to each community body which—

(i)had registered, or had applied to register, an interest in the land on the date on which the action referred to in subsection (1)(a) above occurred; and

(ii)has such an interest on the date on which the notice is served; and

(b)send a copy of the notice to the owner of the land[F74, to any creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land] and to the Keeper.

(4)A notice under subsection (3) above shall narrate the effect of subsection (5) below.

(5)Where notice is given by Ministers under subsection (3) above the owner of the land is, for the purposes of this Part of this Act, deemed to have, on the date on which notice was given by Ministers, given notice under section 48(1) above that a transfer of the land is proposed.

[F75(6)For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the circumstances in which a community interest in land remains in effect include that—

(a)the community body that applied under subsection (1) has, in accordance with subsection (2) of section 44, applied to re-register the interest, and

(b)the Keeper has, by virtue of a direction under subsection (3) of that section, re-entered the interest in the Register.]

Chapter 4SProcedure after activation of right to buy

51Exercise of right to buy: approval of community and consent of MinistersS

(1)A community body shall not proceed to buy land under this Part of this Act without—

(a)the approval of the community; and

(b)the consent of Ministers.

(2)The community are to be taken as having given their approval for the purposes of subsections (1) above and (3) below if Ministers are satisfied—

(a)that—

(i)[F76the proportion] of the members of the community F77...[F78who] have voted in a ballot F79... on the question whether the community body should buy the land; [F80is, in the circumstances, sufficient to justify the community body's proceeding to buy the land;] F81...

F82(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)that the majority of those voting have voted in favour of the proposition that the community body buy the land.

(3)Ministers shall not consent for the purposes of subsection (1) above unless the community have given their approval and Ministers are satisfied—

F83(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)that the community body continues to comply with the provisions of section 34 above;

(c)that what the community body proposes to do with the land is compatible with furthering the achievement of sustainable development;

(d)that the proposed purchase of the land is in the public interest; and

(e)that there has not, since the date on which they decided the community body’s interest should be registered, been a change in any matters to the extent that, if the application to register the community interest were made afresh, they would decide that the interest is not to be entered in the Register.

(4)A community body may require Ministers to treat as confidential any information or document relating to arrangements for the raising or expenditure of money to enable the land to be put to a particular use, being information or a document made available to Ministers for the purposes of subsection (3) above.

(5)Ministers shall, within the time limit specified in subsection (6) below, send notice of their decision as to consent and their reasons for it in writing to the community body and to the owner of the land and shall direct the Keeper to enter a record of that decision in the Register.

(6)That time limit is—

(a)where one community body has confirmed that it will exercise its right to buy the land, the 21 days following receipt [F84by Ministers] of notification, under section 52(3) below, of the result of the ballot F85...; or

(b)where two or more community bodies have confirmed that they will exercise their right to buy the land, the 21 days following receipt of such notification in respect of the last of the ballots F86....

[F87(6A)Where a community body makes representations under section 51C(1), the references to 21 days in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6) are to be read as references to 35 days.]

(7)Any failure to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (6) above does not affect the validity of anything done under this section.

[F88(8)In this section, references to the community are, as respects a community body, references to—

(a)the community defined in relation to that body under section 34(1)(a), (1A)(a) or (1B)(a); or

(b)where that body is a body mentioned in section 34(A1)(b), the community to which that body relates.]

[F8951A Ballots under section 51: appointment of ballotter, etc. S

(1)The ballot is to be conducted by a person (the “ballotter”) appointed by Ministers who appears to them to be independent and to have knowledge and experience of conducting ballots.

(2)Ministers must, within the period mentioned in subsection (3), provide the ballotter with—

(a)a copy of the application made by the community body under section 37 to register an interest in the land in relation to which the body has confirmed it will exercise the right to buy, and

(b)such other information as may be prescribed.

(3)The period is the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which a valuer is appointed under section 59(1) in respect of the land in relation to which the community body has confirmed it will exercise the right to buy.

(4)Ministers must provide the community body with such details of the ballotter as will enable the community body to contact the ballotter.

(5)The community body must, before the end of the period of 7 days following receipt of notification under section 60(2) of the valuation of the land, provide the ballotter with wording for the proposition mentioned in section 51(2)(b); and the ballotter must conduct the ballot on the basis of such wording.

(6)At the same time as providing that wording, the community body must also provide the ballotter, in such form as may be prescribed, with such information as may be prescribed relating to—

(a)the community body,

(b)its proposals for use of the land in relation to which it has confirmed it will exercise its right to buy,

(c)the valuation, and

(d)any other matters.

(7)The expense of conducting the ballot is to be met by Ministers.]

[F9051BConsent under section 51: duty to provide informationS

(1)For the purposes of deciding whether they are satisfied as mentioned in section 51(3) in relation to a community body, Ministers must take into account—

(a)the information mentioned in subsection (2), and

(b)any other information they consider relevant.

(2)The information referred to in subsection (1)(a) is information—

(a)provided by the community body, and

(b)that is of such a kind as may be prescribed.

(3)Information mentioned in subsection (2) must be provided in the prescribed form.

(4)Information that may be prescribed under subsection (2)(b) includes, in particular—

(a)information relating to the matters mentioned in section 51(3), and

(b)additional information relating to such information.

(5)Ministers may, no later than 7 days after receiving the information mentioned in subsection (2), request the community body to provide such further information as they consider necessary.

(6)The community body must, no later than 14 days after receiving any such request, provide Ministers with the further information requested.]

[F9151CCircumstances affecting result of ballotS

(1)Within 14 days of receipt by the community body of notification under section 52(3) of the result of the ballot, the body may make representations to Ministers in writing about any circumstances that the body considers have affected the result of the ballot.

(2)Where the community body makes such representations it must, when making them—

(a)provide Ministers with such evidence as is reasonably necessary to establish the existence and effect of the circumstances to which the representations relate, and

(b)send a copy of the representations and the evidence to the owner of the land to which the ballot relates.

(3)Within 7 days of receipt of any representations under subsection (1), Ministers may request the community body to provide such further information relating to the representations or related evidence as they think fit.

(4)Within 7 days of receiving such a request, the community body must respond to it.

(5)Within 7 days of receipt of a copy of the representations and evidence under subsection (2)(b), the owner of the land may provide Ministers with comments on the representations and evidence.

(6)Where the owner of the land provides comments under subsection (5) the owner must, when providing them, send a copy of the comments to the community body.

(7)Within 7 days of receipt of a copy of comments under subsection (6), the community body may give Ministers views on the comments.

(8)Within 7 days of receipt of any views under subsection (7), Ministers may request the community body to provide such further information relating to the views as they think fit.

(9)Within 7 days of receiving such a request, the community body must respond to it.

(10)In deciding whether they are satisfied as mentioned in section 51(2)(a), Ministers must take account of any—

(a)representations made under subsection (1),

(b)evidence provided under subsection (2)(a),

(c)further information provided under subsection (4) or (9),

(d)comments under subsection (5), and

(e)views under subsection (7).]

52Ballot procedureS

(1)The ballot shall be conducted as prescribed; and the provisions prescribed shall include provision for the ascertainment and publication of the number of persons eligible to vote in the ballot, the number who did so and the numbers of valid votes respectively cast for and against the proposition mentioned in section 51(2)(b) above.

F92(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)The [F93ballotter appointed under section 51A] shall, within the period set out in subsection (4) below and in the prescribed form of return, notify [F94Ministers, the community body, the owner of the land to which the ballot relates and any creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land of]—

(a)the result;

(b)the number of persons eligible to vote;

(c)the number who voted; F95...

(d)the number who voted in favour of the proposition mentioned in section 51(2)(b) above,

[F96(e)the wording of that proposition, and

(f)any information provided by the ballotter to persons eligible to vote in the ballot.]

F97...

[F98(4)The period referred to in subsection (3) above is—

(a)the period of 12 weeks beginning with the date on which a valuer is appointed under section 59(1) in respect of the land in relation to which the community body has confirmed it will exercise its right to buy, or

(b)where—

(i)the ballotter receives notification under section 60(3C), and

(ii)the date notified under paragraph (c) of that subsection is after the end of the 12 week period beginning with the date on which a valuer is appointed under section 59(1),

the period beginning with the date on which a valuer is appointed under section 59(1) and ending with the day after the date notified to the ballotter under section 60(3C).]

[F99(5)Within 7 days of receiving notification under subsection (3) above, Ministers may—

(a)require the ballotter to provide such information relating to the ballot as they think fit,

(b)require the community body to provide such information relating to any consultation with those eligible to vote in the ballot undertaken during the period in which the ballot was carried out as Ministers think fit.

(6)The validity of anything done under this Part of this Act is not affected by any failure by a ballotter to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (4).]

[F100(7)Provision may be prescribed for or in connection with—

(a)reviewing whether a ballot was conducted in accordance with provision prescribed under subsection (1),

(b)providing notification to such persons, or description of persons, as may be prescribed that a ballot has not been so conducted,

(c)in a case where a ballot has not been so conducted, requiring a further ballot to be conducted on such a basis, and by such persons or description of persons, as may be prescribed,

(d)requiring any such further ballot to be conducted—

(i)in compliance with such conditions as may be prescribed (including conditions that the ballot be conducted in accordance with provision prescribed under subsection (1)),

(ii)within such timescales as may be prescribed,

(e)specifying persons, or descriptions of persons, who are to meet the expenses of conducting any such further ballot,

(f)specifying that any review mentioned in paragraph (a) be carried out by—

(i)such persons,

(ii)such description of persons, or

(iii)such a court or tribunal,

as may be prescribed,

(g)specifying the action that may be taken by such persons, persons of such description or such a court or tribunal following such a review.]

53Provisions supplementary to section 51: salmon fishings and mineralsS

Where the land in which a community interest has been registered is salmon fishings or mineral rights, Ministers shall not consent under section 51(1) above to the exercise of the right to buy unless they are (additionally to the matters as to which they are to be satisfied under section 51(3) above) satisfied that—

(a)the salmon fishings are in waters which are within or contiguous to;

(b)where in separate ownership from the land, the mineral rights are exercisable within,

land which the community body is, at the same time, exercising its right to buy or already owns.

54Declinature or extinction of right to buyS

(1)If, at any time, a community body which has registered a community interest decides that it will not exercise its right to buy the land, it shall give Ministers written notice of its decision.

(2)On receipt of a notice under subsection (1) above, Ministers shall—

(a)send a copy of it to the Keeper and direct the Keeper to delete the community interest from the Register; and

(b)notify the owner of the land of that fact.

(3)Where, when that notice is given, that right to buy has arisen, the right is then extinguished.

(4)Nothing in or done under subsections (1) to (3) above prevents a community body from registering a community interest in the same land for a second or subsequent time.

(5)If, at any time after the owner of land has given notice under section 48(1) above but before the owner has concluded missives with a community body for the sale and purchase of the land in respect of which a right to buy has arisen, the owner of the land decides not to proceed further with the proposed transfer the owner shall give written notice of that fact to—

(a)Ministers; and

(b)each community body which has registered an interest in the land.

(6)Ministers shall send a copy of the notice given under subsection (5) above to the Keeper.

(7)Where a notice is given under subsection (5) above, the right to buy the land which arose under section 47 above is extinguished.

(8)Subsections (5) and (7) above do not apply where the right to buy land has arisen and is being exercised by virtue of the owner of land being deemed, by section 50(5) above, to have provided notice under section 48(1) above.

(9)Nothing in subsection (7) above prevents a right to buy land from arising for a second or subsequent time.

55Right to buy same land exercisable by only one community bodyS

(1)Only one community body may exercise the right to buy land in which two or more community bodies have registered community interests.

(2)Where two or more community bodies have confirmed that they will exercise their rights to buy such land it is for Ministers to decide which one is to proceed.

(3)On Ministers so deciding—

(a)the other community body’s right to buy the land is extinguished; and

(b)they shall—

(i)direct the Keeper to delete its interest from the Register; and

(ii)notify the owner of the land and the community bodies of that fact.

(4)Where a community body has confirmed that it will buy the land as respects which a crofting community body has applied to Ministers under section 73 below for consent to exercise the right to buy, it is for Ministers to decide which body is to proceed.

(5)Where Ministers decide that the crofting community body is to proceed—

(a)the community body’s right to buy the land is extinguished; and

(b)they shall—

(i)direct the Keeper to delete its interest from the Register; and

(ii)notify the owner of the land, the crofting community body and the community body of that fact.

56Procedure for buyingS

(1)It is for the community body to make the offer to buy in exercise of the right conferred by this Part of this Act.

(2)The offer shall be at a price—

(a)agreed between the community body and the owner of the land; or

(b)where no such agreement is reached, equal to—

(i)the value assessed by the appointed valuer; or

(ii)if that value is the subject of an appeal under section 62 below, the value determined by the appeal,

and shall specify the date of entry and of payment of the price in accordance with subsection (3) below.

(3)The date of entry and of payment of the price shall be—

(a)a date not later than [F1018] months from the date when the community body sent the confirmation sought by Ministers under section 49(2)(a) above of its intention to buy;

(b)where the price assessed by the appointed valuer is the subject of an appeal under section 62 below which has not, within the period of 4 months after the date when the community body sent that confirmation, been—

(i)determined; or

(ii)abandoned following agreement between the community body and the owner of the land,

a date not later than 2 months after the appeal is so determined or, as the case may be, abandoned; or

(c)such later date as may be agreed between the community body and the owner of the land.

(4)The offer may include such other reasonable conditions as are necessary or expedient to secure the efficient progress and completion of the transfer.

(5)If a community body has not, within the period fixed by or agreed under subsection (3) above, done any of the things mentioned in subsection (6) below, the community body’s right to buy the land is extinguished and Ministers shall—

(a)direct the Keeper to delete its interest in the land from the Register; and

(b)notify the owner of the land of that fact.

(6)The things referred to in subsection (5) above are—

(a)concluding missives with the owner of the land for its sale to the community body;

(b)if the community body has not so concluded missives, taking all steps which, in the opinion of the Lands Tribunal, it could reasonably have taken in the time available towards so concluding missives short of applying to the Lands Tribunal for an order under section 57 below; and

(c)where—

(i)paragraph (b) above applies;

(ii)all such steps as are there mentioned have been taken; and

(iii)there has been, in the opinion of the Lands Tribunal, reasonably sufficient time also to apply to the Lands Tribunal for an order under section 57 below,

applying to the Lands Tribunal accordingly.

[F102(7)Where a later date is agreed as mentioned in subsection (3)(c), the community body must, within 7 days of the agreement—

(a)notify Ministers in writing of the agreement,

(b)inform Ministers—

(i)of the date on which the agreement was made, and

(ii)what the later date is, and

(c)provide evidence to Ministers of the matters mentioned in paragraph (b).]

57Powers of Lands Tribunal in event of failure or delayS

(1)If, on application made to it by the owner of the land or the community body, the Lands Tribunal is satisfied that, following the making of an offer in pursuance of section 56 above, the owner of the land or the community body has unreasonably delayed the progress of transferring title to the land to the community body, the Tribunal may order the owner of the land or, as the case may be, the community body to take such remedial action as is specified in the order and to do so within such time as is so specified.

(2)If a community body—

(a)fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) above; and

(b)has not, within the time in which remedial action specified in such order is required to be taken, given notice under section 54 above to Ministers that it no longer wishes to exercise its right to buy the land,

the Lands Tribunal may make an order extinguishing its right to buy the land and, where the Tribunal makes such an order, it shall send a copy of the order to Ministers and the owner of the land.

(3)Ministers shall, if an order is made under subsection (2) above—

(a)direct the Keeper to delete the community body’s interest from the Register; and

(b)notify the owner of the land of that fact.

(4)If an owner of land—

(a)fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) above; and

(b)has not, within the time in which remedial action specified in such order is required to be taken, given notice under section 54 above to Ministers and the community body that the owner of the land no longer wishes to proceed with the transfer of the land,

the Lands Tribunal may make an order authorising the community body to acquire the land subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order and requiring the owner of the land to transfer the land to the community body in accordance with such terms and conditions.

(5)If an owner of land refuses or fails to effect a transfer of land in pursuance of an order under subsection (4) above in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the order, the Lands Tribunal may authorise its principal clerk to adjust, execute and deliver such deeds or other documents as are necessary to complete the transfer to the like force and effect as if the owner had acted in the manner required by the order.

[F103(6)Where an application under subsection (1) is made by the owner of the land or the community body, the owner or, as the case may be, the community body must, within 7 days of the date on which the application is made, notify Ministers in writing of—

(a)the making of the application, and

(b)the date of making the application.

(7)Failure to comply with the requirement in subsection (2) to send a copy of the order made under that subsection, or with subsection (6), has no effect on—

(a)the community body's right to buy the land, or

(b)the validity of the application under subsection (1).]

58Procedure where right to buy activated by virtue of notice under section 50(3)S

(1)Where a right to buy land arises, and may be exercised, by virtue of Ministers sending notice under section 50(3) above, subsections (2) to (6) below apply in place of sections 56 and 57 above in relation to the exercise of that right.

(2)It is for the community body to secure the expeditious exercise of such a right to buy and, in particular—

(a)to prepare the documents necessary to effect the transfer; and

(b)in so doing, to ensure that the land in respect of which the right to buy has arisen is the same as the land to be transferred.

(3)The community body shall pay a price—

(a)equal to the value assessed by the appointed valuer; or

(b)determined by an appeal.

(4)The owner of the land being bought is obliged—

(a)to make available to the community body such deeds and other documents as are sufficient to enable the body to proceed to complete its title to the land; and

(b)to transfer title accordingly.

(5)If the owner of the land refuses or fails to make those deeds and other documents available or they cannot be found, the Lands Tribunal may, on the application of the community body, order the owner or any other person appearing to the Tribunal to have those deeds and documents to produce them.

(6)If the owner of the land refuses or fails to effect such transfer as is mentioned in subsection (4) above, the Lands Tribunal may, on the application of the community body, authorise its principal clerk to adjust, execute and deliver such deeds or other documents as will complete such transfer to the like force and effect as if done by the owner.

Chapter 5SValuation of land

59Assessment of value of landS

(1)Ministers shall, within 7 days of the receipt of a confirmation, sought by them under section 49(2)(a) above, that a community body will exercise its right to buy the land, appoint a valuer, being a person who appears to Ministers to be suitably qualified, independent and to have knowledge and experience of valuing land of a kind which is similar to the land being bought, to assess the value of the land.

(2)The validity of anything done under this section is not affected by any failure by Ministers to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (1) above.

(3)In assessing the value of land in pursuance of an appointment under subsection (1) above, a valuer—

(a)does not act on behalf of the owner of the land or the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land; and

(b)shall act as an expert and not as an arbiter.

(4)The value to be assessed is the market value of the land—

(a)as at the date of notification under section 48(1) above which gave rise to the right to buy the land; or

(b)in a case where the community body’s interest was registered in pursuance of an application to which section 39 above applied, as at the date of Ministers' receipt of that application.

(5)Where the land the value of which is to be assessed includes salmon fishings or mineral rights, the value of those fishings or rights shall be separately assessed.

(6)The “market value” of land, for the purposes of subsection (4) above, is the aggregate of—

(a)the value it would have on the open market as between a seller and a buyer both of whom are, as respects the transaction, willing; and

(b)where a community body is exercising a right to buy which has arisen in relation to part only of the land in respect of which the owner has given notice under section 48(1) above that a transfer is proposed, the amount of any diminution in the value of the other part of that land which is attributable to the fact that part only of the land is being bought by the body.

(7)In assessing, for those purposes, the value which land would have in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (6)(a) above—

(a)account may be taken, insofar as a seller and a buyer of the land such as are mentioned in subsection (6) above would do so, of any factor attributable to the known existence of a person who (not being the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land) would be willing to buy the land at a price higher than other persons because of a characteristic of the land which relates peculiarly to that person’s interest in buying it;

(b)no account shall be taken of—

(i)the registration of an interest in or the exercise of a right to buy the land by a community body under this Part of this Act;

(ii)the absence of the period of time during which the land would, on the open market, be likely to be advertised and exposed for sale;

(iii)any depreciation in the value of any other land owned by the seller;

(iv)the expenses of the valuation or otherwise related to the sale and purchase of the land.

(8)Where the proposed transfer which gave rise to a community body’s right to buy land was conditional upon moveable property belonging to the owner of the land and used in connection with it being sold with the land, the appointment of the valuer shall be extended to include the valuation of that moveable property.

(9)In any case where that appointment is so extended the moveable property shall be valued separately from the land, individual items of moveable property shall be valued separately from each other and the provisions of this section relating to the assessment of the value of land shall, so far as appropriate, apply for the purposes of the valuation of the moveable property.

(10)The expense of a valuation under this section shall be met by Ministers.

60Procedure for valuationS

(1)In carrying out a valuation under section 59 above, the valuer shall invite the owner of the land and the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land to make written representations about the value of the land and any moveable property being bought with the land and shall consider any representations made accordingly.

[F104(1A)Where written representations under subsection (1) are received—

(a)from the owner of the land, the valuer must invite the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land to send its views on the representations in writing,

(b)from the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land, the valuer must invite the owner of the land to send the owner's views on the representations in writing.

(1B)In carrying out a valuation under section 59, the valuer must consider any views sent under subsection (1A).]

(2)The valuer shall, within the period set out in subsection (3) below, notify Ministers, the owner of the land and the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land of the assessed value of the land and of any moveable property which has been valued.

(3)The period referred to in subsection (2) above is the period of [F1058] weeks beginning with the date of appointment of the valuer or such other longer period as Ministers may, on an application by the valuer, fix.

[F106(3A)An application under subsection (3) must be made within the period of 21 days beginning with the date of appointment of the valuer.

(3B)Any longer period as mentioned in that subsection must be fixed under that subsection within the period of 7 days beginning with the day on which the application was received.

(3C)Where such a longer period is fixed, Ministers must notify the persons mentioned in subsection (3D) of—

(a)the fact that a longer period has been so fixed,

(b)the length of the period, and

(c)the date on which the period ends.

(3D)The persons are—

(a)the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land,

(b)the person appointed to conduct the ballot in relation to the land, and

(c)the owner of the land.]

(4)The validity of anything done under this Part of this Act is not affected by any failure by a valuer to comply with the time limit specified in subsection (3) above.

[F10760ALiability of owner of land for valuation expensesS

(1)Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)Ministers have received a confirmation sought by them under section 49(2)(a) that a community body will exercise its right to buy land in which it has a registered interest, and

(b)after Ministers have appointed a valuer under section 59(1) to assess the value of the land, the owner of the land gives notice under section 54(5) of the owner's decision not to proceed further with the proposed transfer.

(2)Ministers may require the owner of the land to pay any expense incurred by them in connection with the valuation of the land under section 59 by sending the owner a demand for payment of the expense.

(3)Where Ministers are considering sending a demand under subsection (2), they may request the owner of the land to provide such information as they consider necessary for the purposes of enabling Ministers to determine whether or not to send the demand.

(4)The owner of the land may, within 21 days of the receipt of a demand under subsection (2), appeal to the sheriff against the demand.

(5)The decision of the sheriff in an appeal under subsection (4) is final.

(6)The owner of the land must pay the amount specified in a demand under subsection (2)—

(a)within 28 days of receipt, or

(b)where an appeal against the demand is made under subsection (4) and not upheld, within 28 days of the determination of the appeal.]

Chapter 6SAppeals

61AppealsS

(1)An owner of land may, by summary application, appeal to the sheriff against—

(a)a decision by Ministers that a community interest in the land is to be entered in the Register; or

(b)a decision by Ministers to give consent to the exercise by a community body of its right to buy the land.

(2)A community body may, by summary application, appeal to the sheriff against—

(a)a decision by Ministers that its community interest is not to be entered in the Register; or

(b)a decision by Ministers not to give consent to the exercise by the community body of its right to buy.

(3)A person who is a member of a community F108... F109... may, by summary application, appeal to the sheriff against—

(a)a decision by Ministers that a community interest in land is to be entered in the Register on the application of the community body; or

(b)a decision by Ministers to consent to the exercise of the community body’s right to buy land.

[F110(3A)A creditor in a standard security with a right to sell land may appeal to the sheriff against—

(a)a decision by Ministers that a community interest in the land is to be entered in the Register, or

(b)a decision by Ministers to give consent to the exercise by a community body of its right to buy the land.]

(4)An appeal under subsection (1), (2) [F111, (3) or (3A)] above shall be lodged within 28 days of the date on which Ministers decided whether to enter the community interest or, as the case may be, whether to consent to the exercise of the right to buy land.

(5)The sheriff in whose sheriffdom the land or any part of it is situated has jurisdiction to hear an appeal under this section.

(6)Where an appeal is made—

(a)under subsection (1) above the owner shall intimate that fact to—

(i)the community body; F112...

(ii)Ministers; [F113and

(iii)any creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land to which the appeal relates;]

(b)under subsection (2) above the community body shall intimate that fact to—

(i)the owner; F114...

(ii)Ministers; [F115and

(iii)any creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land to which the appeal relates;]

(c)under subsection (3) above the member of the community shall intimate that fact to—

(i)the community body;

(ii)the owner; F116...

(iii)Ministers [F117and

(iv)any creditor in a standard security with a right to sell the land to which the appeal relates;] [F118or

(d)under subsection (3A) above, the creditor must intimate that fact to—

(i)the community body,

(ii)the owner, and

(iii)Ministers.]

(7)The decision of the sheriff in an appeal under this section—

(a)may require rectification of the Register;

(b)may impose conditions upon the appellant;

(c)is final.

[F119(8)In this section, references to the community are, as respects a community body, references to—

(a)the community defined in relation to that body under section 34(1)(a), (1A)(a) or (1B)(a); or

(b)where that body is a body mentioned in section 34(A1)(b), the community to which that body relates.

(9)In subsection (3), the references to the community body are to the community body—

(a)in relation to which the community is defined as mentioned in subsection (8)(a); or

(b)that relates to the community as mentioned in subsection (8)(b).]

62Appeals to Lands Tribunal: valuationS

(1)The owner of the land and the community body which is exercising its right to buy the land may appeal to the Lands Tribunal against the valuation carried out under section 59 above.

(2)An appeal under this section shall state the grounds on which it is being made and shall be lodged within 21 days of the date of notification under section 60 above.

(3)In an appeal under this section, the Lands Tribunal may reassess the value of—

(a)the land;

(b)any moveable property used in connection with, and being sold with, the land; or

(c)both the land and any such moveable property.

(4)The valuer whose valuation is appealed against may be a witness in the appeal proceedings.

F120(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F120(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)The Lands Tribunal shall give reasons for its decision on an appeal under this section and issue a written statement of those reasons F121...[F122-

(a)within 8 weeks of hearing the appeal, or

(b)where subsection (7A) applies, by such later date referred to in paragraph (b)(ii) of that subsection.]

[F123(7A)This section applies where—

(a)the Lands Tribunal considers that it is not reasonable to issue a written statement mentioned in subsection (7) by the time limit specified in paragraph (a) of that subsection, and

(b)before the expiry of that time limit, the Lands Tribunal has notified the parties to the appeal—

(i)that the Tribunal is unable to issue a written statement by that time limit, and

(ii)of the date by which the Tribunal will issue such a written statement.]

(8)The validity of anything done under this Part of this Act is not affected by any failure of the Lands Tribunal [F124—

(a)to comply with the time limit specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) above, or

(b)to issue a written statement by the date referred to in paragraph (b) of that subsection.]

[F125(8A)Where the owner of the land or the community body appeals under this section, the owner or, as the case may be, the community body must, within 7 days of the date on which the appeal is made, notify Ministers in writing of—

(a)the making of the appeal, and

(b)the date of the making of the appeal.

(8B)The Lands Tribunal must send a copy of the written statement of reasons issued under subsection (7) to Ministers.

(8C)Failure to comply with subsection (8A) or (8B) has no effect on—

(a)the community body's right to buy the land, or

(b)the validity of the appeal.]

(9)Ministers are not competent parties to any appeal under this section by reason only that they appointed the valuer whose valuation is the subject of the appeal.

(10)Ministers' powers under the Lands Tribunal Act 1949 (c. 42) to make rules as respects that Tribunal extend to such rules as may be necessary or expedient to give full effect to this section.

63CompensationS

(1)Any person (other than a community body) who has incurred loss or expense—

(a)in complying with the procedural requirements of this Part of this Act;

(b)as a result of failure by a community body to comply with an order of the Lands Tribunal under section 57 above;

(c)attributable to a prohibition imposed under subsection (5)(e) of section 37 above; or

(d)as a result of the operation of paragraph (a) or (b) of section 56(3) above,

is entitled to compensation from Ministers of such amount as they may determine.

(2)The reference in subsection (1)(d) above to loss or expense incurred as a result of the operation of paragraph (a) or (b) of section 56(3) above is a reference to loss or expense incurred which would be likely not to have been incurred in a sale of the land to a person who, not being a community body, would not have had the benefit of the provision of those paragraphs.

(3)Where the community body and the owner of the land agree, under paragraph (c) of section 56(3) above, that the date of entry and payment of price shall be on a date after the last date on which that date could, by the operation of paragraphs (a) or (b) of that section, otherwise have been, no compensation shall be payable for any loss or expense attributable to any period occurring after that last date.

(4)A person who has incurred loss or expense as a result of the suspension under this Act of a right of pre emption, redemption or reversion enjoyed by that person is entitled to compensation.

(5)The procedure for recovering losses and expenses under this section shall be as prescribed.

64Compensation appealsS

(1)An appeal may be made to the Lands Tribunal against the decision of Ministers on compensation under section 63 above.

(2)The Lands Tribunal may, on such an appeal, substitute its decision for that of Ministers.

(3)Such an appeal shall be lodged within 21 days of the decision appealed against.

Chapter 7SGeneral and miscellaneous provisions

65Effect of right to buy on other rightsS

(1)Any rights of pre-emption, redemption or reversion otherwise exercisable over land in which a community interest has been registered are—

(a)suspended as from the date when the community body sends the confirmation sought by Ministers under section 49(2)(a) above of its intention to buy the land; and

(b)revived—

(i)when the transfer under this Part of this Act of the land to the community body is completed; or

(ii)if such a transfer is not completed because the community body does not (by virtue of declining, under section 54 above, to buy the land or for any other reason) proceed to buy the land.

(2)Any rights which a person has in land over which a community interest has been registered, being rights conferred on the person under—

(a)Part 3 of this Act;

(b)section 12 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (c. 44);

(c)any order under that Act of the Land Court in favour of the crofter;

F126(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

are suspended as provided in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above but revived in the circumstances set out in paragraph (b) of that subsection.

(3)Nothing in this Part of this Act—

(a)affects the operation of an inhibition on the sale of the land;

(b)prevents an action of adjudication from proceeding; or

(c)affects the commencement, execution or operation of any other diligence.

66Amendment of Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979S

After subsection (3) of section 4 of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 (c. 33) (applications for registration) there shall be added—

“(4)Where an application is not accepted by the Keeper on the ground that he has not been provided with sufficient evidence to confirm that it does not relate to a transfer which is prohibited by section 40(1) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 2), or by virtue of section 37(5)(e) of that Act, the Keeper shall, subject to subsection (5) below, provide the Scottish Ministers with a copy of the application and notify them of the reason for which the application has been rejected.

(5)Subsection (4) above does not apply where the application has been rejected by reason only of the application not being accompanied by a declaration required under section 43(2) of that Act of 2003.”.

67Construction of references to land in which community interest registeredS

(1)Any reference in this Part of this Act (other than a reference in subsection (2) below) to land in which a community interest has been registered includes a reference to part of such land.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not operate so as to enable a right to buy land to be exercised by a community body in relation to part only of the land in respect of which the right has arisen.

(3)Any reference in this Part of this Act to a creditor in a standard security with a right to sell land is a reference to a creditor who has such a right under—

(a)section 20(2) or 23(2) of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 (c. 35); or

(b)a warrant granted under section 24(1) of that Act.

[F12767ACalculation of time periodsS

(1)In calculating for the purposes of this Part any period of time within which an act requires to be or may be done, no account is to be taken of any public or local holidays in the place where the act is to be done.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to a period of time specified in—

(a)section 56(3)(a) or (b),

(b)section 60(3), or

(c)Chapter 6 of this Part.]

[F12867BDuty to provide information about community right to buyS

(1)Ministers may, for the purpose of monitoring or evaluating any impact that the right to buy land conferred by this Part has had or may have, request a person mentioned in subsection (2) to provide them with the information mentioned in subsection (3).

(2)The persons are—

(a)a community body,

(b)the owner or former owner of land in respect of which an application to register a community interest under section 37 was made.

(3)The information is such information as Ministers may reasonably require for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1) relating to the effects that the operation of the provisions of this Part have had, or may be expected to have, on such matters as may be specified in the request.

(4)A person to whom a request under subsection (1) is made must, to the extent that the person is able to do so, provide Ministers with the information requested.”. Modifications of Part 3 of Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003]