Housing Act 1985

471 Improvement grants: estimated expense of works.

(1) Where a local housing authority approve an application for an improvement grant, they shall determine the amount of the expenses which in their opinion are proper to be incurred for the execution of the relevant works, and shall notify the applicant of that amount.

(2) Not more than 50 per cent., or such other percentage as may be prescribed, of the estimated expense of any works shall be allowed for works of repair and replacement.

(3) If, after an application for a grant has been approved, the authority are satisfied that owing to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant the relevant works will not be carried out on the basis of the estimate contained in the application, they may, on receiving a further estimate, redetermine the estimated expense in relation to the grant.

(4) If the applicant satisfies the authority that—

(a) the relevant works cannot be, or could not have been, carried out without carrying out additional works, and

(b) this could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time the application was made,

the authority may determine a higher amount as the amount of the estimated expense.

(5) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by order of the Secretary of State.

(6) An order—

(a) may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case, including different provision for different areas, and

(b) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.