Housing Act 1985

192 Power to purchase house found on appeal to be unfit and beyond repair at reasonable expense.

(1) Where a person has appealed against a repair notice under section 189 (repair notice in respect of unfit house) and the court in allowing the appeal has found that the house cannot be rendered fit for human habitation at a reasonable expense, the local housing authority may purchase the house by agreement or be authorised by the Secretary of State to purchase it compulsorily.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not confirm an order for the compulsory purchase of a house under this section unless the order is submitted to him within six months after the determination of the appeal.

(3) If an owner or mortgagee of the house undertakes to carry out to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State, within such period as the Secretary of State may fix, the works specified in the notice against which the appeal was brought, the Secretary of State shall not confirm the compulsory purchase order unless that person has failed to fulfil his undertaking.

(4) If the local housing authority purchase the house compulsorily they shall forthwith execute all the works specified in the notice against which the appeal was brought.