Housing Act 1985

270 Demolition orders: recovery of possession of building to be demolished.

(1) Where a demolition order has become operative, the local housing authority shall serve on the occupier of any building, or part of a building, to which the order relates a notice—

(a) stating the effect of the order,

(b) specifying the date by which the order requires the building to be vacated, and

(c) requiring him to quit the building before that date or before the expiration of 28 days from the service of the notice, whichever may be the later.

(2) If any person is in occupation of the building, or any part of it, at any time after the date on which the notice requires the building to be vacated, the local housing authority or an owner of the building may apply to the county court which shall thereupon order vacant possession of the building or part to be given to the applicant within such period, of not less than two or more than four weeks, as the court may determine.

(3) Nothing in the Rent Acts affects the provisions of this section relating to the obtaining possession of a building.

(4) Expenses incurred by the local housing authority under this section in obtaining possession of a building, or part of a building, may be recovered by them by action from the owner, or from any of the owners, of the building.

(5) A person who, knowing that a demolition order has become operative and applies to a building—

(a) enters into occupation of the building, or a part of it, after the date by which the order requires it to be vacated, or

(b) permits another person to enter into such occupation after that date,

commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale and to a further fine not exceeding £5 for every day or part of a day on which the occupation continues after conviction.