- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Housing Act 1985
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Changes over time for: Section 32
Changes to legislation:
Housing Act 1985, Section 32 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 32:
- specified provision(s) savings for amendments by 2018 anaw 1, s. 6, Sch. 6 by S.I. 2019/110 reg. 5
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act savings and transitional provisions for amendments by S.I. 2022/1166 by S.I. 2022/1172 Regulations
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 81A-81D and cross-heading inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 4 (This provision is amended by 2021 c. 7, ss. 79(3), 90(6); S.I 2021/1038, reg. 3(c))
- s. 81B(1)(b) words inserted by 2018 c. 11 s. 1(3)
- s. 81B(2A)-(2C) inserted by 2018 c. 11 s. 1(2)
- s. 81B(2C) words substituted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(a)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
- s. 81B(2C) words substituted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
- s. 81B(2D) inserted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
- s. 82(A1)(A2) inserted by 2016 c. 22 s. 119(2)(a)
- s. 82A(4A)(4B) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 7(2)
- s. 86(1A)(1B) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 10(3)
- s. 86(1C) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 2
- s. 86A-86F and cross-headings inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 11
- s. 86G s. 86A renumbered as s. 86G by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 3(1)(a)
- s. 86G(8) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 3(2)
- s. 88(1)(ba) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 4
- s. 89(2A)-(2D) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 5(3)
- s. 97(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 12(3)
- s. 99A(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 13(3)
- s. 115(3)-(7) inserted by 2024 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 4(a)(ii)
- s. 115B 115C inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 15
- s. 115B 115C inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 15
- s. 353A inserted by 1996 c. 52 s. 73(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 73 repealed (6.4.2006 for E., 16.6.2006 for W.) by 2004 c. 34, Sch. 16; S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(e), Sch.; S.I. 2006/1535, art. 2(c), Sch.)
- s. 582(6)(aa)-(ac) substituted for s. 582(6)(a) by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(2)(b)
- Sch. 1 para. 1ZA and cross-heading inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 17(2)
- Sch. 5A para. 3(3)(aa) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(3)(b)(ii)
- Sch. 5A para. 3(6A) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(3)(d)
32 Power to dispose of land held for purposes of this Part.E+W
(1)Without prejudice to the provisions of Part V (the right to buy) F1. . ., a local authority have power by this section, and not otherwise, to dispose of land held by them for the purposes of this Part.
(2)A disposal under this section may be effected in any manner but, subject to [F2subsections (3) and (3A)], shall not be made without the consent of the Secretary of State.
(3)No consent is required for the letting of land under a secure tenancy [F3or an introductory tenancy]or under what would be a secure tenancy but for any of paragraphs 2 to 12 of Schedule 1 (tenancies, other than long leases [F3and introductory tenancies], which are not secure).
[F4(3A)No consent is required for the letting of land (in Wales) under—
(a)a secure contract,
(b)a supported standard contract,
(c)an introductory standard contract, or
(d)a standard contract—
(i)in relation to which the exception in section 11(2) of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) applies (first exception to requirement that contract made by a community landlord is a secure contract), and
(ii)which is within any of paragraphs 4 and 6 to 14 of Schedule 3 to that Act (occupation contracts made with or adopted by community landlords which may be standard contracts).]
(4)For the purposes of this section the grant of an option to purchase the freehold of, or any other interest in, land is a disposal and a consent given to such a disposal extends to a disposal made in pursuance of the option.
(5)Sections 128 to 132 of the M1Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 (which require surplus land first to be offered to the original owner and to adjoining land-owners) do not apply to the sale by a local authority of land held by them for the purposes of this Part.
[F5(6)The Secretary of State shall consult the Regulator of Social Housing before deciding whether to consent under this section to anything within the Regulator’s remit.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 32(1) repealed (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 52, s. 227, Sch. 19 Pt. IX; S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3 (subject to transitional provisions and savings in Sch.)
F2Words in s. 32(2) substituted (1.12.2022) by The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1166), regs. 1(1), 11(5)(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/1172, regs. 2, 11, 12, 19)
F3Words in s. 33(2) inserted (12.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/74, art. 2, Sch. para. 3(d)
F4S. 32(3A) inserted (1.12.2022) by The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1166), regs. 1(1), 11(5)(b) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/1172, regs. 2, 11, 12, 19)
F5S. 32(6) inserted (1.4.2010) by The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Registration of Local Authorities) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/844), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 12
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 32 extended (1.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 37, Sch. 10 para. 1(2)(a) (with ss. 56(6), 94(2), 95); S.I. 1993/2134, arts. 2, 5(a).
C2S. 32(2) excluded by Local Government Act 1988 (c. 9, SIF 81:1), s. 26(5)(c)
C3S. 32(4) applied by Housing Act 1988 (c. 50, SIF 61), s. 133(4)
Marginal Citations
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.