Housing Act 1985

301 Retention of houses acquired for clearance.

(1) The local housing authority, having declared an area to be a clearance area, may postpone for such period as they may determine the demolition of houses on land purchased by them within the area if, in their opinion, the houses are or can be rendered capable of providing accommodation of a standard which is adequate for the time being.

(2) Where the local housing authority are satisfied that a house on land purchased by them within a clearance area which is not retained by them for temporary use for housing purposes—

(a) is required for the support of a house which is so retained, or

(b) should not be demolished for the time being for some other special reason connected with the exercise in relation to the clearance area of the authority’s powers under subsection (1).

they may retain the house for the time being and are not required to demolish it so long as it is required for that purpose or, as the case may be, so long as those powers are being exercised by the authority in relation to that area.

(3) Where the demolition of any houses in a clearance area is postponed under this section, the local housing authority may also postpone the taking of proceedings under section 290(1) (acquisition of land for clearance) in respect of buildings other than houses within the area.