Housing Act 1985

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

(1)Where a demolition order has become operative [F1with respect to any premises], the local housing authority shall serve on [F2any occupier of the premises or any part of the premises] a notice—

(a)stating the effect of the order,

(b)specifying the date by which the order requires the [F3premises] to be vacated, and

(c)requiring him to quit the [F3premises] 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 [F4the premises], or any part of [F5them], at any time after the date on which the notice requires [F4the premises] to be vacated, the local housing authority or an owner of [F4the premises] may apply to the county court which shall thereupon order vacant possession of [F4the premises] 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 [F6, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) or secondary legislation made under that Act] [F7or Part I of the Housing Act 1988] affects the provisions of this section relating to the obtaining possession of [F8any premises].

(4)Expenses incurred by the local housing authority under this section in obtaining possession of [F8any premises], or part of [F8any premises], may be recovered by them by action from the owner, or from any of the owners, of [F4the premises].

(5)A person who, knowing that a demolition order has become operative and applies to [F8any premises]

(a)enters into occupation of [F4the premises], or a part of [F5them], after the date by which the order requires [F5them] 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.