Housing Act 1985

318 Power of court to authorise execution of works on unfit premises or for improvement.

(1) Where on an application made by a person entitled to any interest in land used in whole or in part as a site for houses the court is satisfied—

(a) that the premises on the land are, or are likely to become, dangerous or injurious to health or unfit for human habitation and the interests of the applicant are thereby prejudiced, or

(b) that the applicant should be entrusted with the carrying out of a scheme of improvement or reconstruction approved by the local housing authority,

the court may make an order empowering the applicant forthwith to enter on the land and within a period fixed by the order execute such works as may be necessary.

(2) Where the court makes such an order, it may order that any lease held from the applicant and any derivative lease shall be determined, subject to such conditions and the payment of such compensation as the court may think just.

(3) The court shall include in its order provisions to secure that the proposed works are carried out and may authorise the local housing authority to exercise such supervision or take such action as may be necessary for the purpose.

(4) In this section “the court” means the High Court or the county court, where those courts respectively have jurisdiction.