Local Government and Housing Act 1989

53 (1) In section 365 (means of escape from fire: general provisions as to exercise of powers) for subsections (1) and (2) there shall be substituted the following subsections—

“(1) In any case where—

(a) the local housing authority have the power to serve a notice under subsection (1) of section 352 in respect of a house in multiple occupation, and

(b) the reason, or one of the reasons, by virtue of which that power arises is a failure to meet the requirement in paragraph (d) of subsection (1A) of that section,

the authority shall in addition have the power for that reason to accept an undertaking or make a closing order under section 368 in respect of the house.

(2) Where by virtue of subsection (1) the local housing authority have powers in respect of a house in multiple occupation to serve a notice under section 352(1) for the reason mentioned in subsection (1)(b) and to accept an undertaking or make a closing order under section 368, they may exercise such of those powers as appear to them appropriate; and where the house is of such description or is occupied in such manner as the Secretary of State may specify by order for the purposes of this subsection, the authority shall be under a duty to so exercise those powers.

(2A) The local housing authority shall not serve a notice under section 352(1) for the reason mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or accept an undertaking or make a closing order under section 368 if the house is of such description or is occupied in such manner as the Secretary of State may specify by order for the purposes of this subsection.”

(2) In subsection (3) of that section for “366” there shall be substituted “352 for the reason mentioned in subsection (1)(b)”.

(3) In subsection (4) of that section after “(2)” there shall be inserted “or (2A)” and at the end of that subsection there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(5) Nothing in this section affects the power of the local housing authority to serve a notice under subsection (1) of section 352 if the house also fails to meet one or more of the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) of subsection (1A) of that section.”