Section 63 sets out the meanings of private "residential landlord", "relevant tenancy" and "dwelling" for the purpose of defining which tenancies fall within scope of the landlord redress schemes and the private rented sector database in Chapters 2 and 3. It also sets out how and to what extent these definitions may be changed through regulations.
	Subsections (1) and (2) outline that, for the purpose of this Act, a "residential landlord" must have a "relevant tenancy" in place in England which, as defined in subsection (3), is either an assured tenancy under the Housing Act 1988 or a regulated tenancy under the Rent Act 1977. Subsections (1) and (2) further clarify that, to be considered as a "residential landlord", a relevant tenancy must relate to a "dwelling", being any building or part of a building occupied or intended to be occupied as a separate home. This excludes non-buildings like caravans, tents, houseboats and park homes which do not fit this definition. Subsections (1) and (2) also exclude "social landlords", as defined in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, from the definition of "residential landlord" for the purposes of the landlord redress schemes and the private rented sector database.
	Subsection (4) confers a regulation-making power on the Secretary of State to change the meaning of terms used in this Chapter to include or exclude superior landlords from the definition of "residential landlord". The power allows for superior landlords to be included under the definition of "residential landlord" in addition to, or instead of, immediate landlords. The power in section 63, subsection (4)(b)(ii) can be exercised to change the meaning of relevant tenancy so as to include licences. As such, it will allow Part 2 to cover superior landlords under rent-to-rent arrangements where the occupier is a licensee as well as where the occupier is a tenant. Subsection (4) also confers a regulation-making power on the Secretary of State to expand or restrict the scope of a "relevant tenancy" and to expand or restrict the meaning of "dwelling". The powers allow for the meaning of dwelling to be changed to include shared accommodation, and to include other structures such as vessels or vehicles if they are occupied under a relevant tenancy.
	Subsection (5) clarifies that the Secretary of State can make regulations to add or remove kinds of tenancies or licences by reference to any matters connected directly or indirectly to a tenancy or licence. This could include the circumstances or characteristics of persons connected to a tenancy or licence, such as the landlord or tenant. For example, a tenancy granted by a landlord of a specified description could be added to the definition of "relevant tenancy".
	Subsection (6) clarifies that the power to add or remove tenancies that are periodic or granted for a term of less than 21 years or licences to occupy under subsection (4)(b) includes dwellings occupied for the purposes of either House of Parliament. This means that such tenancies or licences may be brought into scope of the landlord redress schemes or private rented sector database via regulations, but the landlord will be excluded from criminal liability.
	Subsections (7) and (8) clarify further information about the Secretary of State’s power to change the meaning of a "residential landlord", "relevant tenancy" or "dwelling", including to allow for divergence between the private rented sector database and landlord redress scheme provisions.
Part 2: Residential landlord Chapter 1: Meaning of "Residential Landlord" Section 63: Meaning of "residential landlord" Effect