Source: http://uklaws.org/acts_uk/document184/index.htm
Timestamp: 2017-06-29 01:58:20
Document Index: 668277484

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 96', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 147', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 9', 'art 7', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 9']

Housing Act 2004 (c. 34) Laws UK
Housing conditionsChapter 1
Enforcement of housing standards: generalNew system for assessing housing conditions 1. New system for assessing housing conditions and enforcing housing standards 2. Meaning of "category 1 hazard" and "category 2 hazard" Procedure for assessing housing conditions 3. Local housing authorities to review housing conditions in their districts 4. Inspections by local housing authorities to see whether category 1 or 2 hazards exist Enforcement of housing standards 5. Category 1 hazards: general duty to take enforcement action 6. Category 1 hazards: how duty under section 5 operates in certain cases 7. Category 2 hazards: powers to take enforcement action 8. Reasons for decision to take enforcement action 9. Guidance about inspections and enforcement action 10. Consultation with fire and rescue authorities in certain cases Chapter 2
Improvement notices, prohibition orders and hazard awareness noticesImprovement notices 11. Improvement notices relating to category 1 hazards: duty of authority to serve notice 12. Improvement notices relating to category 2 hazards: power of authority to serve notice 13. Contents of improvement notices 14. Suspension of improvement notices 15. Operation of improvement notices 16. Revocation and variation of improvement notices 17. Review of suspended improvement notices 18. Service of improvement notices etc. and related appeals 19. Change in person liable to comply with improvement notice Prohibition orders 20. Prohibition orders relating to category 1 hazards: duty of authority to make order 21. Prohibition orders relating to category 2 hazards: power of authority to make order 22. Contents of prohibition orders 23. Suspension of prohibition orders 24. Operation of prohibition orders 25. Revocation and variation of prohibition orders 26. Review of suspended prohibition orders 27. Service of copies of prohibition orders etc. and related appeals Hazard awareness notices 28. Hazard awareness notices relating to category 1 hazards: duty of authority to serve notice 29. Hazard awareness notices relating to category 2 hazards: power of authority to serve notice Enforcement: improvement notices 30. Offence of failing to comply with improvement notice 31. Enforcement action by local housing authorities Enforcement: prohibition orders 32. Offence of failing to comply with prohibition order etc. 33. Recovery of possession of premises in order to comply with order 34. Power of tribunal to determine or vary lease Enforcement: improvement notices and prohibition orders Chapter 3
Emergency measuresEmergency remedial action 40. Emergency remedial action 41. Notice of emergency remedial action 42. Recovery of expenses of taking emergency remedial action Emergency prohibition orders 43. Emergency prohibition orders 44. Contents of emergency prohibition orders Appeals 45. Appeals relating to emergency measures Chapter 4
Demolition orders and slum clearance declarationsDemolition orders 46. Demolition orders Slum clearance declarations 47. Clearance areas Appeals 48. Transfer of jurisdiction in respect of appeals relating to demolition orders etc. Chapter 5
General and miscellaneous provisions relating to enforcement actionRecovery of expenses relating to enforcement action 49. Power to charge for certain enforcement action 50. Recovery of charge under section 49 Repeals 51. Repeal of power to improve existing enforcement procedures 52. Repeal of provisions relating to demolition of obstructive buildings 53. Miscellaneous repeals etc. in relation to fire hazards Index 54. Index of defined expressions: Part 1 Part 2
Licensing of houses in multiple occupationIntroductory 55. Licensing of HMOs to which this Part applies Designation of additional licensing areas 56. Designation of areas subject to additional licensing 57. Designations under section 56: further considerations 58. Designation needs confirmation or general approval to be effective 59. Notification requirements relating to designations 60. Duration, review and revocation of designations HMOs required to be licensed 61. Requirement for HMOs to be licensed 62. Temporary exemption from licensing requirement Grant or refusal of licences 63. Applications for licences 64. Grant or refusal of licence 65. Tests as to suitability for multiple occupation 66. Tests for fitness etc. and satisfactory management arrangements 67. Licence conditions 68. Licences: general requirements and duration Variation and revocation of licences 69. Variation of licences 70. Revocation of licences Procedure and appeals 71. Procedural requirements and appeals against licence decisions Enforcement 72. Offences in relation to licensing of HMOs 73. Other consequences of operating unlicensed HMOs: rent repayment orders 74. Further provisions about rent repayment orders 75. Other consequences of operating unlicensed HMOs: restriction on terminating tenancies Supplementary provisions 76. Transitional arrangements relating to introduction and termination of licensing 77. Meaning of "HMO" 78. Index of defined expressions: Part 2 Part 3
Selective licensing of other residential accommodationIntroductory 79. Licensing of houses to which this Part applies Designation of selective licensing areas 80. Designation of selective licensing areas 81. Designations under section 80: further considerations 82. Designation needs confirmation or general approval to be effective 83. Notification requirements relating to designations 84. Duration, review and revocation of designations Houses required to be licensed 85. Requirement for Part 3 houses to be licensed 86. Temporary exemption from licensing requirement Grant or refusal of licences 87. Applications for licences 88. Grant or refusal of licence 89. Tests for fitness etc. and satisfactory management arrangements 90. Licence conditions 91. Licences: general requirements and duration Variation and revocation of licences 92. Variation of licences 93. Revocation of licences Procedure and appeals 94. Procedural requirements and appeals against licence decisions Enforcement 95. Offences in relation to licensing of houses under this Part 96. Other consequences of operating unlicensed houses: rent repayment orders 97. Further provisions about rent repayment orders 98. Other consequences of operating unlicensed houses: restriction on terminating tenancies Supplementary provisions 99. Meaning of "house" etc. 100. Index of defined expressions: Part 3 Part 4
Additional control provisions in relation to residential accommodationChapter 1
Interim and final management ordersIntroductory 101. Interim and final management orders: introductory Interim management orders: making and operation of orders 102. Making of interim management orders 103. Special interim management orders 104. The health and safety condition 105. Operation of interim management orders 106. Local housing authority's duties once interim management order in force 107. General effect of interim management orders 108. General effect of interim management orders: leases and licences granted by authority 109. General effect of interim management orders: immediate landlords, mortgagees etc. 110. Financial arrangements while order is in force Interim management orders: variation and revocation 111. Variation of interim management orders 112. Revocation of interim management orders Final management orders: making and operation of orders 113. Making of final management orders 114. Operation of final management orders 115. Local housing authority's duties once final management order in force 116. General effect of final management orders 117. General effect of final management orders: leases and licences granted by authority 118. General effect of final management orders: immediate landlords, mortgagees etc. 119. Management schemes and accounts 120. Enforcement of management scheme by relevant landlord Final management orders: variation and revocation 121. Variation of final management orders 122. Revocation of final management orders Interim and final management orders: procedure and appeals 123. Procedural requirements and appeals Interim and final management orders: other general provisions 124. Effect of management orders: occupiers 125. Effect of management orders: agreements and legal proceedings 126. Effect of manage
Interim and final empty dwelling management ordersIntroductory 132. Empty dwelling management orders: introductory Interim empty dwelling management orders 133. Making of interim EDMOs 134. Authorisation to make interim EDMOs 135. Local housing authority's duties once interim EDMO in force Final empty dwelling management orders 136. Making of final EDMOs 137. Local housing authority's duties once final EDMO in force Compensation 138. Compensation payable to third parties Chapter 3
Overcrowding notices 139. Service of overcrowding notices 140. Contents of overcrowding notices 141. Requirement as to overcrowding generally 142. Requirement as to new residents 143. Appeals against overcrowding notices 144. Revocation and variation of overcrowding notices Chapter 4
Supplementary provisions 145. Supplementary provisions 146. Interpretation and modification of this Part 147. Index of defined expressions: Part 4 Part 5
Home information packsPreliminary 148. Meaning of "residential property" and "home information pack" 149. Meaning of "on the market" and related expressions 150. Acting as estate agent Responsibility for marketing residential properties 151. Responsibility for marketing: general 152. Responsibility of person acting as estate agent 153. Responsibility of the seller Duties of a responsible person where a property is on the market 154. Application of sections 155 to 158 155. Duty to have a home information pack 156. Duty to provide copy of home information pack on request Register of home condition reports 157. Section 156 (1) duty: imposition of conditions 158. Duty to ensure authenticity of documents in other situations Other duties of person acting as estate agent 159. Other duties of person acting as estate agent Exceptions from the duties 160. Residential properties not available with vacant possession 161. Power to provide for further exceptions 162. Suspension of duties under sections 155 to 159 Contents of home information packs 163. Contents of home information packs 164. Home condition reports Register of home condition reports 165. Register of home condition reports Enforcement 166. Enforcement authorities 167. Power to require production of home information packs 168. Penalty charge notices 169. Offences relating to enforcement officers 170. Right of private action Supplementary 171. Application of Part to sub-divided buildings 172. Power to require estate agents to belong to a redress scheme 173. Approval of redress schemes 174. Withdrawal of approval of redress schemes 175. Office of Fair Trading 176. Grants 177. Interpretation of Part 5 178. Index of defined expressions: Part 5 Part 6
Other provisions about housingChapter 1
Secure tenanciesIntroductory tenancies 179. Extension of introductory tenancies Right to buy: when exercisable 180. Extension of qualifying period for right to buy 181. Exceptions to the right to buy: determination whether exception for dwelling-house suitable for elderly persons applies 182. Exceptions to the right to buy: houses due to be demolished 183. Right to buy: claim suspended or terminated by demolition notice 184. Landlord's notice to complete Right to buy: discounts 185. Repayment of discount: periods and amounts applicable 186. Repayment of discount: increase attributable to home improvements to be disregarded 187. Deferred resale agreements Right to buy: landlord's right of first refusal 188. Right of first refusal for landlord etc. Right to buy: information 189. Information to help tenants decide whether to exercise right to buy etc. Right to buy: termination of rent to mortgage scheme 190. Termination of rent to mortgage scheme Suspension of certain rights in connection with anti-social behaviour 191. Secure tenancies: withholding of consent to mutual exchange 192. Right to buy: suspension by court order 193. Right to buy: suspension of landlord's obligation to complete 194. Disclosure of information as to orders etc. in respect of anti-social behaviour Chapter 2
Disposals attracting discounts other than under right to buyDisposals by local authorities 195. Repayment of discount: periods and amounts applicable 196. Repayment of discount: increase attributable to home improvements to be disregarded 197. Local authority's right of first refusal 198. Deferred resale agreements Disposals by registered social landlords 199. Repayment of discount: periods and amounts payable 200. Registered social landlord's right of first refusal 201. Deferred resale agreements 202. Right of assured tenant to acquire dwelling not affected by collective enfranchisement Disposals by housing action trusts 203. Repayment of discount: periods and amounts payable 204. Housing action trust's right of first refusal 205. Deferred resale agreements Chapter 3
Mobile HomesSite agreements 206. Particulars of site agreements to be given in advance 207. Implied terms relating to termination of agreements or disposal of mobile homes 208. Power to amend terms implied in site agreements Protection from eviction etc. 209. Protected sites to include sites for gypsies 210. Extension of protection from harassment for occupiers of mobile homes 211. Suspension of eviction orders Chapter 4
Tenancy deposit schemes 212. Tenancy deposit schemes 213. Requirements relating to tenancy deposits 214. Proceedings relating to tenancy deposits 215. Sanctions for non-compliance Chapter 5
MiscellaneousOvercrowding 216. Overcrowding Energy efficiency 217. Energy efficiency of residential accommodation: England Registered social landlords 218. Amendments relating to registered social landlords 219. Disclosure of information to registered social landlords for the purposes of section 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Other provisions relating to social housing 220. Additional power to give grants for social housing 221. Extension of right to acquire 222. Rights of pre-emption in connection with assured tenancies 223. Allocation of housing accommodation by local authorities Disabled facilities grant 224. Disabled facilities grant: caravans Accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers 225. Duties of local housing authorities: accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers 226. Guidance in relation to section 225 Annual reports by local housing authorities 227. Removal of duty on local housing authorities to send annual reports to tenants etc. Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales 228. Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales Part 7
Supplementary and final provisionsResidential property tribunals 229. Residential property tribunals 230. Powers and procedure of residential property tribunals 231. Appeals from residential property tribunals Register of licences and management orders 232. Register of licences and management orders Codes of practice and management regulations relating to HMOs etc. 233. Approval of codes of practice with regard to the management of HMOs etc. 234. Management regulations in respect of HMOs Information provisions 235. Power to require documents to be produced 236. Enforcement of powers to obtain information 237. Use of information obtained for certain other statutory purposes 238. False or misleading information Enforcement 239. Powers of entry 240. Warrant to authorise entry 241. Penalty for obstruction 242. Additional notice requirements for protection of owners Authorisations 243. Authorisations for enforcement purposes etc. Documents 244. Power to prescribe forms 245. Power to dispense with notices 246. Service of documents 247. Licences and other documents in electronic form 248. Timing and location of things done electronically 249. Proof of designations Other supplementary provisions 250. Orders and regulations 251. Offences by bodies corporate 252. Power to up-rate level of fines for certain offences 253. Local inquiries Meaning of "house in multiple occupation" 254. Meaning of "house in multiple occupation" 255. HMO declarations 256. Revocation of HMO declarations 257. HMOs: certain converted blocks of flats 258. HMOs: persons not forming a single household 259. HMOs: persons treated as occupying pre
of numbers of persons Final provisions 265. Minor and consequential amendments 266. Repeals 267. Devolution: Wales 268. The Isles of Scilly 269. Expenses 270. Short title, commencement and extent Schedule 1
Procedure and appeals relating to improvement noticesPart 1
Service of improvement noticesPart 2
Service of notices relating to revocation or variation of improvement noticesPart 3
Appeals relating to improvement noticesSchedule 2
Procedure and appeals relating to prohibition ordersPart 1
Service of copies of prohibition ordersPart 2
Service of notices relating to revocation or variation of prohibition ordersPart 3
Appeals relating to prohibition ordersSchedule 3
Improvement notices: enforcement action by local housing authoritiesPart 1
Action taken by agreementPart 2
Power to take action without agreementPart 3
Recovery of certain expensesSchedule 4
Licences under Parts 2 and 3: mandatory conditionsSchedule 5
Licences under Parts 2 and 3: procedure and appealsPart 1
Procedure relating to grant or refusal of licencesPart 2
Procedure relating to variation or revocation of licencesPart 3
Appeals against licence decisionsSchedule 6
Management orders: procedure and appealsPart 1
Procedure relating to making of management ordersPart 2
Procedure relating to variation or revocation of management ordersPart 3
Appeals against decisions relating to management ordersSchedule 7
Further provisions regarding empty dwelling management ordersPart 1
Interim EDMOsPart 2
Final EDMOsPart 3
Interim and final EDMOs: general provisions (other than provisions relating to appeals)Part 4
AppealsSchedule 8
Penalty charge notices under section 168Schedule 9
New Schedule 5A to the Housing Act 1985: initial demolition noticesSchedule 10
Provisions relating to tenancy deposit schemesSchedule 11
Registered social landlordsSchedule 12
New Schedule 2A to the Housing Act 1996Schedule 13
Residential property tribunals: procedureSchedule 14
Buildings which are not HMOs for purposes of this Act (excluding Part 1)Schedule 15
Minor and consequential amendmentsSchedule 16
Part 1 Housing conditions Chapter 1 Enforcement of housing standards: general <<<< >>>>
New system for assessing housing conditions 1 New system for assessing housing conditions and enforcing housing standards (1) This Part provides-- (a) for a new system of assessing the condition of residential premises, and (b) for that system to be used in the enforcement of housing standards in relation to such premises. (2) The new system-- (a) operates by reference to the existence of category 1 or category 2 hazards on residential premises (see section 2), and (b) replaces the existing system based on the test of fitness for human habitation contained in section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68). (3) The kinds of enforcement action which are to involve the use of the new system are-- (a) the new kinds of enforcement action contained in Chapter 2 (improvement notices, prohibition orders and hazard awareness notices), (b) the new emergency measures contained in Chapter 3 (emergency remedial action and emergency prohibition orders), and (c) the existing kinds of enforcement action dealt with in Chapter 4 (demolition orders and slum clearance declarations). (4) In this Part "residential premises" means-- (a) a dwelling; (b) an HMO; (c) unoccupied HMO accommodation; (d) any common parts of a building containing one or more flats. (5) In this Part-- "building containing one or more flats" does not include an HMO;"common parts", in relation to a building containing one or more flats, includes--
common facilities provided (whether or not in the building) for persons who include the occupiers of one or more of the flats;"dwelling" means a building or part of a building occupied or intended to be occupied as a separate dwelling;"external common parts", in relation to a building containing one or more flats, means common parts of the building which are outside it;"flat" means a separate set of premises (whether or not on the same floor)--
either the whole or a material part of which lies above or below some other part of the building;"HMO" means a house in multiple occupation as defined by sections 254 to 259, as they have effect for the purposes of this Part (that is, without the exclusions contained in Schedule 14);"unoccupied HMO accommodation" means a building or part of a building constructed or adapted for use as a house in multiple occupation but for the time being either unoccupied or only occupied by persons who form a single household.
(6) In this Part any reference to a dwelling, an HMO or a building containing one or more flats includes (where the context permits) any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to, or usually enjoyed with, the dwelling, HMO or building (or any part of it). (7) The following indicates how this Part applies to flats-- (a) references to a dwelling or an HMO include a dwelling or HMO which is a flat (as defined by subsection (5)); and (b) subsection (6) applies in relation to such a dwelling or HMO as it applies in relation to other dwellings or HMOs (but it is not to be taken as referring to any common parts of the building containing the flat). (8) This Part applies to unoccupied HMO accommodation as it applies to an HMO, and references to an HMO in subsections (6) and (7) and in the following provisions of this Part are to be read accordingly. 2 Meaning of "category 1 hazard" and "category 2 hazard" (1) In this Act-- "category 1 hazard" means a hazard of a prescribed description which falls within a prescribed band as a result of achieving, under a prescribed method for calculating the seriousness of hazards of that description, a numerical score of or above a prescribed amount;"category 2 hazard" means a hazard of a prescribed description which falls within a prescribed band as a result of achieving, under a prescribed method for calculating the seriousness of hazards of that description, a numerical score below the minimum amount prescribed for a category 1 hazard of that description; and"hazard" means any risk of harm to the health or safety of an actual or potential occupier of a dwelling or HMO which arises from a deficiency in the dwelling or HMO or in any building or land in the vicinity (whether the deficiency arises as a result of the construction of any building, an absence of maintenance or repair, or otherwise).
(2) In subsection (1)-- "prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the appropriate national authority (see section 261(1)); and"prescribed band" means a band so prescribed for a category 1 hazard or a category 2 hazard, as the case may be.
(3) Regulations under this section may, in particular, prescribe a method for calculating the seriousness of hazards which takes into account both the likelihood of the harm occurring and the severity of the harm if it were to occur. (4) In this section-- "building" includes part of a building;"harm" includes temporary harm.
(5) In this Act "health" includes mental health. Procedure for assessing housing conditions 3 Local housing authorities to review housing conditions in their districts (1) A local housing authority must keep the housing conditions in their area under review with a view to identifying any action that may need to be taken by them under any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2). (2) The provisions are-- (a) the following provisions of this Act-- (i) this Part, (ii) Part 2 (licensing of HMOs), (iii) Part 3 (selective licensing of other houses), and (iv) Chapters 1 and 2 of Part 4 (management orders); (b) Part 9 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) (demolition orders and slum clearance); (c) Part 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42) (renewal areas); and (d) article 3 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1860). (3) For the purpose of carrying out their duty under subsection (1) a local housing authority and their officers must-- (a) comply with any directions that may be given by the appropriate national authority, and (b) keep such records, and supply the appropriate national authority with such information, as that authority may specify. 4 Inspections by local housing authorities to see whether category 1 or 2 hazards exist (1) If a local housing authority consider-- (a) as a result of any matters of which they have become aware in carrying out their duty under section 3, or (b) for any other reason, that it would be appropriate for any residential premises in their district to be inspected with a view to determining whether any category 1 or 2 hazard exists on those premises, the authority must arrange for such an inspection to be carried out.
(2) If an official complaint about the condition of any residential premises in the district of a local housing authority is made to the proper officer of the authority, and the circumstances complained of indicate-- (a) that any category 1 or category 2 hazard may exist on those premises, or (b) that an area in the district should be dealt with as a clearance area, the proper officer must inspect the premises or area.
(3) In this section "an official complaint" means a complaint in writing made by-- (a) a justice of the peace having jurisdiction in any part of the district, or (b) the parish or community council for a parish or community within the district. (4) An inspection of any premises under subsection (1) or (2)-- (a) is to be carried out in accordance with regulations made by the appropriate national authority; and (b) is to extend to so much of the premises as the local housing authority or proper officer (as the case may be) consider appropriate in the circumstances having regard to any applicable provisions of the regulations. (5) Regulations under subsection (4) may in particular make provision about-- (a) the manner in which, and the extent to which, premises are to be inspected under subsection (1) or (2), and (b) the manner in which the assessment of hazards is to be carried out. (6) Where an inspection under subsection (2) has been carried out and the proper officer of a local housing authority is of the opinion-- (a) that a category 1 or 2 hazard exists on any residential premises in the authority's district, or (b) that an area in their district should be dealt with as a clearance area, the officer must, without delay, make a report in writing to the authority which sets out his opinion together with the facts of the case.
(7) The authority must consider any report made to them under subsection (6) as soon as possible. Enforcement of housing standards 5 Category 1 hazards: general duty to take enforcement action (1) If a local housing authority consider that a category 1 hazard exists on any residential premises, they must take the appropriate enforcement action in relation to the hazard. (2) In subsection (1) "the appropriate enforcement action" means whichever of the following courses of action is indicated by subsection (3) or (4)-- (a) serving an improvement notice under section 11; (b) making a prohibition order under section 20; (c) serving a hazard awareness notice under section 28; (d) taking emergency remedial action under section 40; (e) making an emergency prohibition order under section 43; (f) making a demolition order under subsection (1) or (2) of section 265 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68); (g) declaring the area in which the premises concerned are situated to be a clearance area by virtue of section 289(2) of that Act. (3) If only one course of action within subsection (2) is available to the authority in relation to the hazard, they must take that course of action. (4) If two or more courses of action within subsection (2) are available to the authority in relation to the hazard, they must take the course of action which they consider to be the most appropriate of those available to them. (5) The taking by the authority of a course of action within subsection (2) does not prevent subsection (1) from requiring them to take in relation to the same hazard-- (a) either the same course of action again or another such course of action, if they consider that the action taken by them so far has not proved satisfactory, or (b) another such course of action, where the first course of action is that mentioned in subsection (2)(g) and their eventual decision under section 289(2F) of the Housing Act 1985 means that the premises concerned are not to be included in a clearance area. (6) To determine whether a course of action mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (g) of subsection (2) is "available" to the authority in relation to the hazard, see the provision mentioned in that paragraph. (7) Section 6 applies for the purposes of this section. 6 Category 1 hazards: how duty under section 5 operates in certain cases (1) This section explains the effect of provisions contained in subsection (2) of section 5. (2) In the case of paragraph (b) or (f) of that subsection, the reference to making an order such as is mentioned in that paragraph is to be read as a reference to making instead a determination under section 300(1) or (2) of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) (power to purchase for temporary housing use) in a case where the authority consider the latter course of action to be the better alternative in the circumstances. (3) In the case of paragraph (d) of that subsection, the authority may regard the taking of emergency remedial action under section 40 followed by the service of an improvement notice under section 11 as a single course of action. (4) In the case of paragraph (e) of that subsection, the authority may regard the making of an emergency prohibition order under section 43 followed by the service of a prohibition order under section 20 as a single course of action. (5) In the case of paragraph (g) of that subsection-- (a) any duty to take the course of action mentioned in that paragraph is subject to the operation of subsections (2B) to (4) and (5B) of section 289 of the Housing Act 1985 (procedural and other restrictions relating to slum clearance declarations); and (b) that paragraph does not apply in a case where the authority have already declared the area in which the premises concerned are situated to be a clearance area in accordance with section 289, but the premises have been excluded by virtue of section 289(2F)(b). 7 Category 2 hazards: powers to take enforcement action (1) The provisions mentioned in subsection (2) confer power on a local housing authority to take particular kinds of enforcement action in cases where they consider that a category 2 hazard exists on residential premises. (2) The provisions are-- (a) section 12 (power to serve an improvement notice), (b) section 21 (power to make a prohibition order), (c) section 29 (power to serve a hazard awareness notice), (d) section 265(3) and (4) of the Housing Act 1985 (power to make a demolition order), and (e) section 289(2ZB) of that Act (power to make a slum clearance declaration). (3) The taking by the authority of one of those kinds of enforcement action in relation to a particular category 2 hazard does not prevent them from taking either-- (a) the same kind of action again, or (b) a different kind of enforcement action, in relation to the hazard, where they consider that the action taken by them so far has not proved satisfactory.
8 Reasons for decision to take enforcement action (1) This section applies where a local housing authority decide to take one of the kinds of enforcement action mentioned in section 5(2) or 7(2) ("the relevant action"). (2) The authority must prepare a statement of the reasons for their decision to take the relevant action. (3) Those reasons must include the reasons why the authority decided to take the relevant action rather than any other kind (or kinds) of enforcement action available to them under the provisions mentioned in section 5(2) or 7(2). (4) A copy of the statement prepared under subsection (2) must accompany every notice, copy of a notice, or copy of an order which is served in accordance with-- (a) Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act (service of improvement notices etc.), (b) Part 1 of Schedule 2 to this Act (service of copies of prohibition orders etc.), or (c) section 268 of the Housing Act 1985 (service of copies of demolition orders), in or in connection with the taking of the relevant action.
(5) In subsection (4)-- (a) the reference to Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act includes a reference to that Part as applied by section 28(7) or 29(7) (hazard awareness notices) or to section 40(7) (emergency remedial action); and (b) the reference to Part 1 of Schedule 2 to this Act includes a reference to that Part as applied by section 43(4) (emergency prohibition orders). (6) If the relevant action consists of declaring an area to be a clearance area, the statement prepared under subsection (2) must be published-- (a) as soon as possible after the relevant resolution is passed under section 289 of the Housing Act 1985, and (b) in such manner as the authority consider appropriate. 9 Guidance about inspections and enforcement action (1) The appropriate national authority may give guidance to local housing authorities about exercising-- (a) their functions under this Chapter in relation to the inspection of premises and the assessment of hazards, (b) their functions under Chapter 2 of this Part in relation to improvement notices, prohibition orders or hazard awareness notices, (c) their functions under Chapter 3 in relation to emergency remedial action and emergency prohibition orders, or (d) their functions under Part 9 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) in relation to demolition orders and slum clearance. (2) A local housing authority must have regard to any guidance for the time being given under this section. (3) The appropriate national authority may give different guidance for different cases or descriptions of case or different purposes (including different guidance to different descriptions of local housing authority or to local housing authorities in different areas). (4) Before giving guidance under this section, or revising guidance already given, the Secretary of State must lay a draft of the proposed guidance or alterations before each House of Parliament. (5) The Secretary of State must not give or revise the guidance before the end of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before each House of Parliament (or, if copies are laid before each House of Parliament on different days, the later of those days). (6) The Secretary of State must not proceed with the proposed guidance or alterations if, within the period of 40 days mentioned in subsection (5), either House resolves that the guidance or alterations be withdrawn. (7) Subsection (6) is without prejudice to the possibility of laying a further draft of the guidance or alterations before each House of Parliament. Pages: