Housing Act 1957

9 Power of local authority to require repair of unfit house

(1) Where a local authority, upon consideration of an official representation, or a report from any of their officers, or other information in their possession, are satisfied that any house is unfit for human habitation, they shall, unless they are satisfied that it is not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit, serve upon the person having control of the house a notice—

(a) requiring him, within such reasonable time, not being less than twenty-one days, as may be specified in the notice, to execute the works specified in the notice, and

(b) stating that, in the opinion of the authority, those works will render the house fit for human habitation.

(2) In addition to serving a notice under this section on the person having control of the house, the local authority may serve a copy of the notice on any other person having an interest in the house, whether as freeholder, mortgagee, lessee or otherwise.

(3) In this and the three next following sections references to a house include a reference to a hut, tent, caravan or other temporary or moveable form of shelter which is used for human habitation and has been in the same inclosure for a period of two years next before action is taken under this section.