Leasehold Casualties (Scotland) Bill

# Leasehold Casualties (Scotland) Bill The Leasehold Casualties (Scotland) Bill addresses a long-standing problem affecting Scottish leaseholders who own properties on long leases with "casualty" clauses. These clauses allow landlords to demand substantial payments from tenants at specified intervals or upon certain events, such as the sale of a property. The bill arose from concerns that such payments can be unpredictable, unaffordable, and act as a barrier to property transactions and inheritance, leaving many leaseholders unable to exercise basic ownership rights or pass their homes to family members. The bill proposes to abolish the right of landlords to demand casualty payments, thereby removing this financial burden from leaseholders. Key provisions would prevent landlords from collecting these payments during the lease term or upon the sale of the property, and would eliminate any associated legal obligations that leaseholders currently face. The legislation effectively seeks to modernise Scottish property law by ending a feudal-era practice that many argue has no place in contemporary housing arrangements, bringing greater security and affordability to affected homeowners.

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