Housing Act 1985

347 Control provisions.

(1) A registration scheme may contain control provisions, that is to say, provisions for preventing multiple occupation of a house unless—

(a) the house is registered, and

(b) the number of households or persons occupying it does not exceed the number registered for it.

(2) Control provisions may prohibit persons from permitting others to take up residence in a house or part of a house but shall not prohibit a person from taking up or remaining in residence in the house.

(3) Control provisions shall not apply—

(a) where the persons occupying the house form only two households, or

(b) where, apart from one household (if any), the house is occupied by no more than four persons;

and shall not affect the continued occupation of a house by the number of households or persons occupying it when the provisions come into force.

(4) A person convicted of an offence under section 346(6) (contravention or failure to comply with provisions of registration scheme) consisting of a contravention of so much of control provisions as relates—

(a) to occupation to a greater extent than permitted under those provisions of a house which is not registered, or

(b) to occupation of a house which is registered by more households or persons than the registration permits,

is liable to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.