Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)

Part I U.K. Social Rented Sector

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Part I (ss. 1-64) amended (1.10.1996) by S.I. 1996/2325, art.3

C2 Pt. 1: The system of "registered social landlords" under this Part is replaced (8.9.2008 for specified purposes and 1.12.2008, 16.2.2009, 1.4.2009, 7.9.2009 and 1.4.2010 for further purposes) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), Pt. 2. This Part continues to apply in relation to Wales with certain provisions applied in relation to England and certain provisions preserved although they apply to England only, see s. 60 of the affecting Act; S.I. 2008/2358, art. 3; S.I. 2008/3068, art. 3 (with arts. 6-13); S.I. 2009/363, art. 2; S.I. 2009/803, art. 7; S.I. 2009/2096, art. 2(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

Chapter IV E+W General powers of the [F1 Relevant Authority]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 82(1)(2) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

Housing management E+W

36 Issue of guidance by the [F2 Relevant Authority]. E+W

(1) The [F2 Relevant Authority] may issue guidance with respect to the management of housing accommodation by registered social landlords.

(2) Guidance under [F3 subsection (1) ] may, in particular, be issued with respect to—

(a) the housing demands for which provision should be made and the means of meeting those demands;

(b) the allocation of housing accommodation between individuals;

(c) the terms of tenancies and the principles upon which levels of rent should be determined;

(d) standards of maintenance and repair and the means of achieving those standards;

(e) the services to be provided to tenants;

(f) the procedures to be adopted to deal with complaints by tenants against a landlord;

(g) consultation and communication with tenants;

(h) the devolution to tenants of decisions concerning the management of housing accommodation.

[F4 (i) the policy and procedures a landlord is required under section 218A to prepare and from time to time revise in connection with anti-social behaviour.]

[F5 (2A) The Relevant Authority may also issue guidance with respect to—

(a) the governance of bodies that are registered social landlords;

(b) the effective management of such bodies;

(c) establishing and maintaining the financial viability of such bodies.]

[F6 (3) Before issuing any guidance under this section the Relevant Authority shall consult such bodies appearing to the Relevant Authority to be representative of registered social landlords as the Relevant Authority considers appropriate; and where the Relevant Authority issues guidance under this section it shall be issued in such manner as the Relevant Authority considers appropriate for bringing it to the notice of the landlords concerned.

(4) The Housing Corporation shall not issue guidance under this section unless—

(a) it has been submitted in draft to the Secretary of State for his approval, and

(b) the Secretary of State has given his approval to the draft.]

(5) Guidance issued under this section may be revised or withdrawn; and subsections (3) and (4) apply in relation to the revision of guidance as in relation to its issue.

(6) Guidance under this section may make different provision in relation to different cases and, in particular, in relation to different areas, different descriptions of housing accommodation and different descriptions of registered social landlord.

(7) In considering whether action needs to be taken to secure the proper management of the affairs of a registered social landlord or whether there has been [F7 misconduct or ] mismanagement, the [F2 Relevant Authority] may have regard (among other matters) to the extent to which any guidance under this section is being or has been followed.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 82(1)(2) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

F3 Words in s. 36(2) substituted (18.1.2005) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(3)(c), Sch. 11 para. 13(2)

F4 S. 36(2)(i) inserted (30.6.2004 for E.) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (c. 38), ss. 12(2), 93; S.I. 2004/1502, art. 2(a)(i)

F5 S. 36(2A) inserted (18.1.2005) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(3)(c), Sch. 11 para. 13(3)

F6 S. 36(3)(4) substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para.87 (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

F7 Words in s. 36(7) inserted (18.1.2005) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(3)(c), Sch. 11 para. 13(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 36(4) modified (1.12.2008) by The Transfer of Housing Corporation Functions (Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2839), arts. 1(1), 3, Sch. para. 5 (with art. 6)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 36 wholly in force 1.10.1996; s. 36 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 232(1)-(3); s. 36(1)-(6) in force at 1.8.1996 by S.I. 1996/2048, art. 2 and s. 36(7) in force at 1.10.1996 by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3 (with transitional provisions and savings in the Sch.)

37 Powers of entry. E+W

(1) This section applies where it appears to the [F8 Relevant Authority] that a registered social landlord may be failing to maintain or repair any premises in accordance with guidance issued under section 36.

(2) A person authorised by the [F8 Relevant Authority] may at any reasonable time, on giving not less than 28 days’ notice of his intention to the landlord concerned, enter any such premises for the purpose of survey and examination.

(3) Where such notice is given to the landlord, the landlord shall give the occupier or occupiers of the premises not less than seven days’ notice of the proposed survey and examination.

A landlord who fails to do so commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(4) Proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) may be brought only by or with the consent of the [F8 Relevant Authority] or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(5) An authorisation for the purposes of this section shall be in writing stating the particular purpose or purposes for which the entry is authorised and shall, if so required, be produced for inspection by the occupier or anyone acting on his behalf.

(6) The [F8 Relevant Authority] shall give a copy of any survey carried out in exercise of the powers conferred by this section to the landlord concerned.

(7) The [F8 Relevant Authority] may require the landlord concerned to pay to it such amount as the [F8 Relevant Authority] may determine towards the costs of carrying out any survey under this section.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 82(1)(2) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 37 extended (16.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3, Sch. para. 1

38 Penalty for obstruction of person exercising power of entry. E+W

(1) It is an offence for a registered social landlord or any of its officers or employees to obstruct a person authorised under section 37 (powers of entry) to enter premises in the performance of anything which he is authorised by that section to do.

(2) A person who commits such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Proceedings for such an offence may be brought only by or with the consent of the [F9 Relevant Authority] or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 82(1)(2) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 38 extended (16.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3, Sch. para. 1