Housing Act 1985

Demolition or closing of unfit premises beyond repair at reasonable cost E+W

[F1 264 Power to make closing order. E+W

(1) Where the local housing authority are satisfied that a dwelling-house or house in multiple occupation is unfit for human habitation and that, in accordance with section 604A, taking action under this subsection is the most satisfactory course of action, they shall make a closing order with respect to the dwelling-house or house in multiple occupation.

(2) Where the local housing authority are satisfied that, in a building containing one or more flats, some or all of the flats are unfit for human habitation and that, in accordance with section 604A, taking action under this subsection is the most satisfactory course of action, they shall make a closing order with respect to the whole or part of the building.

(3) In deciding for the purposes of subsection (2)—

(a) whether to make a closing order with respect to the whole or part of the building; or

(b) in respect of which part of the building to make a closing order;

the authority shall have regard to such guidance as may from time to time be given by the Secretary of State under section 604A.

(4) This section has effect subject to section 300(1) (power to purchase for temporary housing use houses liable to be demolished or closed).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 264, 265 substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c.42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 14

[F2 265 Power to make demolition order. E+W

(1) Where the local housing authority are satisfied that—

(a) a dwelling-house which is not a flat, or

(b) a house in multiple occupation which is not a flat in multiple occupation,

is unfit for human habitation and that, in accordance with section 604A, taking action under this subsection is the most satisfactory course of action, they shall make a demolition order with respect to the dwelling-house or house concerned.

(2) Where the local housing authority are satisfied that, in a building containing one or more flats, some or all of the flats are unfit for human habitation and that, in accordance with section 604A, taking action under this subsection is the most satisfactory course of action, they shall make a demolition order with respect to the building.

(3) This section has effect subject to sections 300(1) (power to purchase for temporary housing use houses liable to be demolished or closed) and 304(1) (listed buildings and buildings protected by notice pending listing).]

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 264, 265 substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c.42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 14

266 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3 E+W

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 266 repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), ss. 165(1)(b), 194(4), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 15, Sch. 12 Pt. II

267 Content of demolition and closing orders. E+W

(1) A demolition order is an order requiring that the premises—

(a) be vacated within a specified period (of at least 28 days) from the date on which the order becomes operative, and

(b) be demolished within six weeks after the end of that period or, if it is not vacated before the end of that period, after the date on which it is vacated or, in either case, within such longer period as in the circumstances the local housing authority consider it reasonable to specify.

(2) A closing order is an order prohibiting the use of the premises to which it relates for any purpose not approved by the local housing authority.

(3) The approval of the local housing authority shall not be unreasonably withheld, and a person aggrieved by the withholding of such approval by the authority may, within 21 days of the refusal, appeal to the county court.

268 Service of notice of order. E+W

(1) Where a local housing authority have made a demolition or closing order, they shall serve a copy of the order on—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(b) any . . . F5 person who is an owner of the premises, and

(c) every mortgagee of the premises whom it is reasonably practicable to ascertain.

[F6 (1A) Where the premises in respect of which a demolition or closing order is made is a building or part of a building containing flats, any reference in paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) to “the premises” includes a reference to the flats in the building or part of the building concerned.]

(2) An order against which no appeal is brought becomes operative at the end of the period of 21 days from the date of service of the order and is final and conclusive as to matters which could have been raised on an appeal.

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 268(1)(a) repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), ss. 165(1)(b), 194(4), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 16(1), Sch. 12 Pt. II

F5 Word repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), ss. 165(1)(b), 194(4), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 16(1), Sch. 12 Pt. II

F6 S. 268(1A) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 16(2)

269 Right of appeal against order. E+W

(1) A person aggrieved by a demolition or closing order may, within 21 days after the date of the service of the order, appeal to the county court.

(2) No appeal lies at the instance of a person who is in occupation of the premises [F7 or part of the premises] under a lease or agreement with an unexpired term of three years or less.

[F8 (2A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), it shall be a ground of appeal—

(a) in the case of a closing order, that serving a repair notice under section 189 or making a demolition order under section 265 is the most satisfactory course of action; and

(b) in the case of a demolition order, that serving a repair notice under section 189 or making a closing order under section 264 is the most satisfactory course of action;

and, where the grounds on which an appeal is brought are or include that specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), the court, on hearing the appeal, shall have regard to any guidance given to the local housing authority under section 604A.]

(3) On an appeal the court—

(a) may make such order either confirming or quashing or varying the order as it thinks fit, . . . F9

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9

[F10 (3A) Where an appeal is allowed against a closing or demolition order and the reason or one of the reasons for allowing the appeal is that specified in paragraph (a) or, as the case may be, paragraph (b) of subsection (2A), the judge shall, if requested to do so by the appellant or the local housing authority, include in his judgement a finding to that effect.]

(4)(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11

(6) If an appeal is brought the order does not become operative until—

(a) a decision on the appeal confirming the order (with or without variation) is given and the period within which an appeal to the Court of Appeal may be brought expires without any such appeal having been brought, or

(b) if a further appeal to the Court of Appeal is brought, a decision on that appeal is given confirming the order (with or without variation);

and for this purpose the withdrawal of an appeal has the same effect as a decision confirming the order or decision appealed against.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 17(1)

F8 s. 269(2A)inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 17(2)

F9 Word;and and s. 269(3)(b) repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), ss. 165(1)(b), 194(4), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 17(3), Sch. 12 Pt. II

F10 S. 269(3A) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), s. 165(1)(b), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 17(4)

F11 s. 269(4)(5) repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 61), ss. 165(1)(b), 194(4), Sch. 9 Pt. II para. 17(5), Sch. 12 Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 269(2A) amended (17.12.1996) by S.I. 1996/2885, art. 4(3)

Valid from 06/04/2006

[F12 269A Appeals suggesting certain other courses of action E+W

(1) One ground of appeal under section 269 in relation to a demolition order made under section 265 is that a course of action mentioned in subsection (2) is the best course of action in relation to the hazard concerned.

(2) The courses of action are—

(a) serving an improvement notice under section 11 or 12 of the Housing Act 2004;

(b) making a prohibition order under section 20 or 21 of that Act;

(c) serving a hazard awareness notice under section 28 or 29 of that Act; or

(d) declaring the area in which the premises concerned are situated to be a clearance area in accordance with section 289 of this Act.

(3) Subsection (4) applies where—

(a) a residential property tribunal is hearing an appeal under section 269 in relation to a demolition order made under section 265; and

(b) the grounds on which the appeal is brought are or include the ground that a course of action mentioned in subsection (2) is the best course of action in relation to each hazard concerned.

(4) The tribunal shall have regard to any guidance given to the local housing authority under section 9 of the Housing Act 2004.

(5) Subsection (6) applies where—

(a) an appeal under section 269 is allowed against a demolition order made under section 265; and

(b) the reason or one of the reasons for allowing the appeal is that a course of action mentioned in subsection (2) is the best course of action in relation to the hazard concerned.

(6) The tribunal shall, if requested to do so by the appellant or the local housing authority, include in its decision a finding to that effect and identifying the course of action concerned.

(7) Subsection (1) of this section is without prejudice to the generality of section 269.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 269A inserted (6.4.2006 for E. and 16.6.2006 for W.) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), ss. 265(1), 270(4)(5), Sch. 15 para. 15; S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.); S.I. 2006/1535, art. 2(b) (with Sch.)