Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

97 Local authority may control occupation of houses in housing action area. S

(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a local authority may—

(a) as soon as practicable after they receive notification under section 94(3)(b), or

(b) if after the expiry of the period of 28 days mentioned in section 94(3) they have received no notification from the Secretary of State;

make an order in the prescribed form prohibiting the occupation of the houses in the area which have been identified in accordance with section 92(4)(a) and (c) except with the consent of the authority.

(2) Within 28 days of making an order under this section, the local authority shall serve a notice in the prescribed form in respect of every such house in the housing action area—

(a) upon the person having control of the house, and

(b) upon any other person who is an owner or occupier of the house,

stating that the order has been made and indicating the effect of the order.

(3) An order made under this section shall not prohibit the occupation of a house in the area by a person occupying it on the date of the service of the notice in respect of the house under subsection (2).

(4) If any person, knowing that an order has been made under this section, occupies or permits to be occupied a house after the date of the service of the notice in respect of the house under subsection (2) in contravention of the order, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction—

(a) to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment; and

(b) in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine of £5 for every day or part of a day which he occupies the house, or permits it to be occupied, after conviction.

(5) Where an owner or a person having control of a house in respect of which an order under this section is served considers that it is unreasonable in all the circumstances of the case that the order should continue to apply to the house, he may apply to the local authority to revoke the order in respect of the house.

(6) Where an applicant for a revocation under subsection (5) is aggrieved by the refusal of the local authority to revoke the order, he may appeal to the sheriff by giving notice of appeal within 21 days of the date of the refusal.

(7) An order made under this section shall cease to have effect in relation to any house affected by any of the following events, that is to say—

(a) on the date on which the local authority revoke an order under subsection (5);

(b) on the date of the passing of a final resolution under paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 identifying a house in accordance with that paragraph as read with section 92(4)(b);

(c) on the date of the rescinding of a draft resolution under paragraph 1 of Schedule 8;

(d) in the case where the Secretary of State, in refusing to confirm an order for compulsory purchase submitted to him under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8, directs that any order made under this section shall cease to apply either generally or in respect of individual houses, on the date of that direction;

(e) in the case where the Secretary of State, in modifying in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5(3)(e) of Schedule 8 an order for compulsory purchase submitted to him under that paragraph, directs that any order made under this section shall cease to apply either generally or in respect of individual houses, on the date of that direction.