The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2011

Statutory Instruments

2011 No. 1002 (C. 40)

Housing, England

The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2011

Made

4th April 2011

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 320, 322 and 325 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008(1), makes the following Order:

Citation and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Commencement No.8 and Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2011.

(2) In this Order—

“the 1983 Act” means the Mobile Homes Act 1983(2);

“the 2008 Act” means the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;

“commencement date” means 30th April 2011;

“existing agreement” means a local authority agreement which is made before the commencement date;

“gypsies and travellers” means persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, but does not include members of an organised group of travelling showpeople, or persons engaged in travelling circuses, travelling together as such(3);

“local authority agreement” means an agreement under which a person is entitled to station a mobile home on a local authority gypsy and traveller site in England;

“local authority gypsy and traveller site” means any land which is occupied by a local authority as a caravan site providing accommodation for gypsies and travellers;

“permanent pitch” means a pitch on which a person is entitled to station a mobile home under the terms of an agreement to which the 1983 Act applies and which is not a transit pitch;

“pitch” means land, forming part of a local authority gypsy and traveller site in England and including any garden area, on which a person is entitled to station a mobile home; and

“transit pitch” means a pitch on which a person is entitled to station a mobile home, under the terms of an agreement to which the 1983 Act applies, for a fixed period of up to 3 months.

(3) Other expressions used, but not defined, in this Order and which are used in the 1983 Act have the same meaning in this Order as they have in the 1983 Act.

Commencement: local authority gypsy and traveller sites

2.—(1) Section 318 (protected mobile home sites to include sites for gypsies and travellers) of the 2008 Act comes into force on the commencement date in relation to local authority gypsy and traveller sites in England.

(2) Section 321(1) (repeals) of, and Schedule 16 to, the 2008 Act come into force on the commencement date in relation to local authority gypsy and traveller sites in England so far as they relate to the following repeals—

Title	Repeal
Mobile Homes Act 1983 (c. 34)	In section 5(1), in the definition of “protected site”, the words from “does not include” to “that,”.
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33)	In section 80(4), the words from “in the definition” to “1983 or”.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) are subject to articles 3 to 7.

Transit pitches: saving for certain purposes of the 1983 Act

3.  The repeals made by the provisions brought into force by article 2 do not apply for the purposes of the operation of sections 1(3), (4) and (6) and 2(2) to (4) of the 1983 Act(4) in relation to a transit pitch.

Existing agreements: general transitional provision

4.  Subject to article 5, the 1983 Act applies to an existing agreement as it would apply to a local authority agreement made after the coming into force of the provisions brought into force by article 2 and the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1 and Consequential Amendments) (England) Order 2011(5).

Existing agreements: transitional disapplication of certain terms and obligations

5.  Notwithstanding article 4—

(a) sections 1(2) to (9) and 2(2) to (4) of the 1983 Act do not apply to an existing agreement, and

(b) in relation to an existing agreement—

(i) paragraphs 3 and 4 (termination) of Chapter 3, or paragraphs 3 to 6 (termination) of Chapter 4, of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act(6), whichever Chapter may be applicable in a particular case, do not apply for the purposes of any proceedings commenced before the commencement date in which termination of the agreement is at issue;

(ii) paragraph 8 (re-siting of mobile home) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply to a requirement that the occupier’s right to station the mobile home is exercisable for any period in relation to another pitch where the requirement is made before the commencement date;

(iii) paragraph 15(2) and (6) to (11) (pitch fee) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply in relation to the first pitch fee review under that agreement where the pitch fee review date for that review is within 28 days of the commencement date;

(iv) paragraph 16 (pitch fee) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply where works relating to an improvement were carried out before the commencement date;

(v) paragraph 19(c) and (d) (occupier’s obligations) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule may not be enforced in relation to any breach of the agreement which occurs within 3 months of the commencement date;

(vi) paragraph 19(e) (occupier’s obligations) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply in relation to costs and expenses incurred before the commencement date;

(vii) paragraph 20(f) (owner’s obligations) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply where works relating to the improvements start before, or within the period of 28 days beginning with, the commencement date; and

(viii) paragraph 20(g) (owner’s obligations) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Schedule does not apply in relation to any matter which arises before, or within the period of 28 days beginning with, the commencement date.

Existing agreements: local authority’s duty to provide a written statement

6.—(1) In relation to an existing agreement in respect of a pitch which, by virtue of this Order, becomes a permanent pitch, the local authority must within the period of 28 days beginning with the commencement date give to the other party to the agreement a written statement which complies with the following paragraphs.

(2) The written statement must—

(a) specify the names and addresses of the parties,

(b) include particulars of the pitch that are sufficient to identify it,

(c) set out the express terms contained in the agreement,

(d) set out the terms to be implied terms by virtue of the application of the 1983 Act to the agreement, and

(e) be in the form set out in the Schedule to this Order or a form substantially to the same effect.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), if any express term—

(a) is contained in the agreement, but

(b) was not set out in a written statement given to the other party in accordance with paragraph (1),

the term is unenforceable by the local authority or any person within section 3(1) of the 1983 Act.

(4) Where the local authority fails to give the other party to the agreement a written statement in accordance with paragraph (1), the other party may, at any time after the 28 days mentioned in that paragraph has expired, apply to a tribunal for an order requiring the local authority—

(a) to give the person a written statement which complies with paragraph (2)(a) to (e), and

(b) to do so not later than such date as is specified in the order.

(5) In paragraph (4) “tribunal” has the same meaning as in the 1983 Act and a tribunal’s jurisdiction under that paragraph is to be treated as jurisdiction under the 1983 Act.

(6) A statement required to be given to a person under this article may be either delivered to them personally or sent by post.

(7) A written statement under this article is not to be treated as a written statement for the purposes of section 1 or 2 of the 1983 Act.

(8) A written statement under this article is to be treated as a written statement for the purposes of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act.

Existing agreements: general saving

7.  The repeals made by the provisions brought into force by article 2 do not affect any right or liability which has accrued in relation to an existing agreement or any remedy in respect of any such right or liability.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Grant Shapps

Minister of State

Department for Communities and Local Government

4th April 2011

Article 6(2)

SCHEDULE Written Statement in relation to the Mobile Homes Act 1983

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Article 2 of this Order brings into force section 318 (protected mobile home sites to include sites for gypsies and travellers) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and related repeals in Schedule 16 to that Act. The provisions commenced result in the application of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to local authority gypsy and traveller sites in England.

Articles 3 to 7 are transitional, transitory and saving provisions in relation to agreements for pitches on local authority gypsy and traveller sites.

Article 3 saves the disapplication of certain provisions in relation to agreements for transit pitches. Broadly these disapplications mean that the 28 day time limit for providing a written statement, the right to seek a court or tribunal order in relation to the giving of a written statement, and the right to apply to the court or tribunal to amend the terms of such an agreement, do not apply to these agreements.

Article 4 provides that on or after the commencement date the 1983 Act, as amended by section 318 of the 2008 Act and the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1 and Consequential Amendments) (England) Order 2011, applies to existing agreements in the same way it applies to a new agreement entered into on that date.

Article 5 disapplies, in relation to existing agreement, certain provisions of section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to, the 1983 Act (inserted into that Act by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1 and Consequential Amendments) (England) Order 2011).

Article 6 is a transitory provision which requires local authorities to give a written statement to the occupiers of permanent pitches within 28 days of the commencement date and it (and the Schedule to the Order) sets out what such a statement must include.

Article 7 is a general saving provision to ensure that rights and liabilities under existing agreements are not affected by the application of the 1983 Act to these agreements.

An impact assessment has been prepared in respect of this Order. It has been deposited in the Library of each House of Parliament and is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU or email [e-mail]

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDERS

(This note is not part of the Order)

Provision	Date of Commencement	S.I. No.
Sections 1 to 3 and Schedule 1	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 4	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358, 2008/3068 and 2010/862
Sections 5 to 18 and Schedules 2 to 4	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 19	01.12.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/3068 and 2010/862
Sections 20 to 30	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 31	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 32 and 33	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 34	01.04.2009	2009/803
Section 35	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 36	01.04.2009	2009/803
Section 37	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 38 to 43	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 44	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 45	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Sections 46 and 47	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 48	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 49	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 50 and Schedule 5	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008 and 01.04.2009	2008/2358, 2008/3068 and 2009/803
Section 51 and Schedules 6 and 7	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 52 to 55	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 56 and Schedule 8	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008, 01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358, 2008/3068, 2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 57	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358, 2008/3068 and 2010/862
Section 58	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008, 01.04.09 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358, 2008/3068, 2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 59	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 60 to 63	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 64	16.02.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/363 and 2010/862
Sections 65 to 71 and Schedules 6 and 7	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 72	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 73 to 80	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Sections 81 to 85	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 86	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Sections 87 to 92	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 93	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2009	2008/2358 and 2009/803
Section 94	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 95 to 98	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Sections 99 to 104	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 105	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 106 to 111	01.04.2010	2010/862
Sections 112 and 113	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 114	08.09.2008 and 07.09.09	2008/2358 2009/2096
Section 115	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 116	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 117	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 118	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 119	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 120 to 126	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 127	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 128 to 130	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 131	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 132 to 143	01.04.2010	2010/862
Sections 144 and 145	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Sections 146 to 173	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 174	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 175 to 191	01.04.2010	2010/862
Sections 192 to 197	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 198	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 199 to 201	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 202	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Sections 203 to 211	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 212	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 213	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 214	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 215	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 216	08.09.2008	2008/2358
Sections 217 to 227	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 228	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Sections 229 to 233	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 234	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Sections 235 to 239	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 240	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 241 to 243	01.04.2010	2010/862
Section 244	01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 245 to 274	01.04.2010	2010/862
Sections 275 and 276	08.09.2008 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358 and 2010/862
Section 277 and Schedule 9	08.09.2008, 01.12.2008, 01.04.2009 and 01.04.2010	2008/2358, 2008/3068, 2009/803 and 2010/862
Section 278	01.04.2010	2010/862
Sections 295 and 296	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 297	01.01.2009	2008/3068
Section 298	01.12.2008 and 01.01.2009	2008/3068
Section 299 and Schedule 11	01.12.2008 and 20.05.2009	2008/3068 and 2009/1261
Section 300	07.09.09	2009/2096
Sections 301 and 302	01.12.2008 and 07.09.09	2008/3068 and 2009/2096
Section 303 and Schedule 12 (partially)	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 308	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 309	01.12.2008 and 06.04.2009	2008/2068 and 2009/803
Section 311 and Schedule 14	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 314 and Schedule 15 (partially)	02.03.09	2009/415
Section 315 (partially)	01.12.2008	2008/3068
Section 316	07.09.09	2009/2096
Section 317	22.09.2008	2008/2358
Section 321 and Schedule 16 (partially)	22.09.2008, 01.12.08, 02.03.09, 01.04.2009 20.05.2009 and 07.09.09	2008/2358, 2008/3068, 2009/415, 2009/803, 2009/1261 and 2009/2096

(1)

2008 c. 17.

(2)

1983 c. 34.

(3)

Section 5 of the Mobile Homes Act 1983, before amendment by section 318 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), provides that the 1983 Act does not apply to land occupied by a local authority as a caravan site providing accommodation for gipsies. The definition of ‘gipsies’ which this exclusion relied upon was repealed by section 80 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33), though it was saved for the purpose of interpreting section 5. This definition of ‘gypsies and travellers’ derives from that saved definition.

(4)

1983 c. 34. In England and Wales, section 1 was substituted, and section 2 was amended, by sections 206 and 265 of, and paragraph 9 of Schedule 15 to, the Housing Act 2004 (c. 34).

(5)

S.I. 2011/1003.

(6)

Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act were inserted by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1 and Consequential Amendments) (England) Order 2011.