Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Housing (Fitness Enforcement Procedures) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 17th December 1996.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In this Order, "enforcement action" means action of any of the kinds specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The kinds of action are -

(a)serving a deferred action notice under section 81 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, or renewing such a notice under section 84 of that Act;

(b)serving a notice under section 189 of the Housing Act 1985(2) (repair notice in respect of a house which is unfit for human habitation);

(c)serving a notice under section 190 of that Act of 1985(3) (repair notice in respect of house in state of disrepair but not unfit for human habitation);

(d)making a closing order under section 264 of that Act of 1985;(4) and

(e)making a demolition order under section 265 of that Act of 1985.(5)

Right to make representations

3. Before a local housing authority takes enforcement action against any person, except in a case where it appears to the authority necessary to take such action immediately, they -

(1) shall give to that person a written notice stating:

(a)that they are considering taking the action and the reasons why they are considering it; and

(b)that the person may, within a period specified in the notice (not being less than 14 days) make either written representations to the authority or, if the person so requests, make oral representations to the authority in the presence of an officer appointed by the authority (such a request being made not later than the expiry of 7 days beginning with the day on which that notice is given); and

(2) shall consider any representations which are duly made and not withdrawn.

Sanctions for non-compliance

4. Where any enforcement action is taken and the authority has failed to comply with article 3, that failure shall be a ground for appeal additional to those specified in relation to the relevant type of enforcement action in -

(1) section 83(2) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (deferred action notices and, as applied by section 84(4) of that Act, decisions to renew such a notice);

(2) section 191(1A) and (1B) of the Housing Act 1985(6) (repair notices); and

(3) section 269 (2A) of the Housing Act 1985(7) (closing and demolition orders).

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides that before taking specified enforcement action in relation to housing which is unfit or in a state of disrepair, that is to say -

(a)deferred action notices and decisions to renew them,

(b)repair notices,

(c)closing orders, and

(d)demolition orders

a local authority shall serve a notice (a "minded to take action notice") and give an opportunity for representations to be made unless it appears to the authority necessary to take action immediately. Immediate action means proceeding directly to the service of a notice or the making of an order specified in (a) to (d) above.