Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

29 Protection of buildings

(1) The section applies where it appears to a local authority—

(a) that any building in their area is unoccupied ; or

(b) that the occupier of a building in their area is temporarily absent from it.

(2) Where this section applies and it appears to the local authority that the building—

(a) is not effectively secured against unauthorised entry; or

(b) is likely to become a danger to public health,

the local authority may undertake works in connection with the building for the purpose of preventing unauthorised entry to it, or, as the case may be, for the purpose of preventing it becoming a danger to public health.

(3) In this section and sections 30 and 32 " building " includes structure.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, in (this section, the sections mentioned in subsection (3) above and section 31 below " local authority " means a district council, a London borough council and the Common Council of the City of London.

(5) This section and the other sections mentioned in subsection (4) above shall have effect, in relation to a building in respect of which—

(a) an undertaking that it shall not be used for human habitation is in force by virtue of section 16(4) of the [1957 c. 56.] Housing Act 1957 or paragraph 5 of Schedule 24 to the [1980 c. 51.] Housing Act 1980 ; or

(b) a closing order is in force by virtue of section 17, 26 or 35 of the Housing Act 1957, section 26 of the [1961 c. 65.] Housing Act 1961 or paragraph 6 of Schedule 24 to the [1980 c. 51.] Housing Act 1980,

and which is situated in an area which in pursuance of section 40 of the [1969 c. 33.] Housing Act 1969 or section 49 of the [1974 c. 44.] Housing Act 1974 is for the time being declared by the Greater London Council to be a general improvement area or a housing action area, as if for the words " the local authority ", in each place where they occur, there were substituted the words " the Greater London Council ".

(6) Subject to subsection (8) below, before undertaking any works under subsection (2) above, other than works on land to which section 30 below applies, a local authority shall serve a notice that they propose to undertake works under this section in connection with the building on each owner or occupier of the building.

(7) A notice under subsection (6) above shall specify the works in connection with the building which the local authority propose to undertake.

(8) A local authority need not give any such notice where they consider—

(a) that it is necessary to undertake works immediately in order to secure the building against unauthorised entry or to prevent it from becoming a danger to public health; or

(b) that it is not reasonably practicable to ascertain the name and address of an owner or to trace the whereabouts of an occupier who is absent from the building.

(9) A local authority shall not undertake works specified in a notice under subsection (6) above before the expiry of the period of 48 hours from the service of the notice.

(10) For the purpose of exercising the power conferred on a local authority by this section any person duly authorised in writing by the authority may enter—

(a) the building in connection with which works are to be undertaken;

(b) any land that appears to the local authority to be appurtenant to the building ; and (c) any other land if—

(i) it appears to the local authority to be unoccupied; and

(ii) it would be impossible to undertake the works without entering it.

(11) Where the local authority undertake any works under subsection (2) above, they may recover the expenses reasonably incurred in so doing from any person to whom notice was given under subsection (6) above or subsection (2) of section 30 below or to whom notice would have been required to be given but for subsection (8) of this section or subsection (4) of that section.

(12) Section 293 of the [1936 c. 49.] Public Health Act 1936 shall have effect in relation to the recovery of expenses under this section as it has effect in relation to the recovery of a sum which a council are entitled to recover under that Act and with respect to the recovery of which provision is not made by any other section of that Act.

(13) In proceedings to recover expenses under this section the court may inquire whether the expenses ought to be borne wholly or in part by some person other than the defendant in the proceedings, and the court may make such order concerning the expenses of their apportionment as appears to the court to be just.