Section 16P — Section 16N: application and interpretation
This version in force from 2026-05-01
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) [F1 Section 16N applies to a guarantee—]
(a) [F1 whether or not it is in writing;]
(b) [F1 if it is in writing, whether or not it is in the lease;]
(c) [F1 whether or not it also guarantees the payment of any sum other than the rent.]
(2) [F1 In section 16N and this section—“commencement date” has the meaning given by section 146(3) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025; “family member” is to be read in accordance with subsections (3) and (4); “rent period” means a period for which rent is payable.]
(3) [F1 For the purposes of section 16N, the guarantor is a family member of the following persons—]
(a) [F1 the spouse, civil partner or co-habitee of the guarantor;]
(b) [F1 a person who is—]
(i) [F1 a child,]
(ii) [F1 a grandchild,]
(iii) [F1 a parent,]
(iv) [F1 a grandparent,]
(v) [F1 a sibling,]
(vi) [F1 a niece or nephew,]
(vii) [F1 an aunt or uncle, or]
(viii) [F1 a cousin,]
[F1 of the guarantor or of the spouse, civil partner or co-habitee of the guarantor;]
(c) [F1 a person who is the spouse, civil partner or co-habitee of a person falling within paragraph (b).]
(4) [F1 If, in accordance with subsection (3), a person (F)—]
(a) [F1 is a family member of the guarantor when the guarantee is entered into, or]
(b) [F1 becomes a family member of the guarantor after the guarantee is entered into,]
[F1 F is to be regarded as being a family member of the guarantor at all times afterwards (regardless of whether F continues to be so in accordance with subsection (3)).]
(5) [F1 For the purposes of this section—]
(a) [F1 one person (C) is the “co-habitee” of another person (P) if P lives with C as if they were married or in a civil partnership;]
(b) [F1 a “niece or nephew” of a person (P) is a child—]
(i) [F1 of a sibling of P, or]
(ii) [F1 of a person who is the spouse, civil partner or co-habitee of a sibling of P;]
(c) [F1 an “aunt or uncle” of a person (P) is a sibling of a parent of P;]
(d) [F1 a “cousin” of a person (P) is a child—]
(i) [F1 of an aunt or uncle of P, or]
(ii) [F1 of a person who is the spouse, civil partner or co-habitee of an aunt or uncle of P;]
(e) [F1 “sibling” includes a sibling of the half-blood and a step-sibling.]
Amendment notes
- F1 Ss. 16N, 16P and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 19, 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a)