Housing Act 1988

79 Disposal of land by housing action trusts. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below and any directions given by the Secretary of State, a housing action trust may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, dispose of any land for the time being held by it to such persons, in such manner and on such terms as it considers expedient for the purpose of achieving its objects.

(2) A housing action trust may not dispose of a house which is for the time being subject to a secure tenancy [F1 or an introductory tenant] except—

[F2 (a) to a registered social landlord (within the meaning of Part I of the Housing Act 1996), or]

(b) to a local housing authority or other local authority F3 . . .;

but this subsection does not apply to a disposal under Part V of the M1 Housing Act 1985 (the right to buy).

(3) The reference in subsection (1) above to disposing of land includes a reference to granting an interest in or right over land and, in particular, the granting of an option to purchase the freehold of, or any other interest in, land is a disposal for the purposes of that subsection; and a consent under that subsection given to such a disposal extends to a disposal made in pursuance of the option.

(4) The consent of the Secretary of State referred to in subsection (1) above may be given—

(a) either generally to all housing action trusts or to a particular trust or description of trust;

(b) either in relation to particular land or in relation to land of a particular description; and

(c) subject to conditions.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4)(c) above, consent under subsection (1) above may, in particular, be given subject to conditions as to the price, premium or rent to be obtained by the housing action trust on the disposal, including conditions as to the amount by which, on the disposal of a house by way of sale or by the grant or assignment of a lease at a premium, the price or premium is to be, or may be, discounted by the housing action trust.

[F4 (5A) Subsection (2) above has effect as if the saving effected by paragraph 9 of the Schedule to the Housing Act 1996 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1996 related also to disposals of houses subject to introductory tenancies.]

F5 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5 (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(11) In section 45(2)(b) of the M2 Housing Act 1985 (which defines “public sector authority” for the purposes of provisions of that Act restricting service charges payable after disposal of a house) after the entry “an urban development corporation” there shall be inserted “a housing action trust”.

(12) A housing action trust shall be treated as a local authority for the purposes of sections 18 to 30 of the M3 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (service charges).

(13) The provisions of Schedule 11 to this Act shall have effect in the case of certain disposals of houses by a housing action trust.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 79(2) inserted (12.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/74, art. 2, Sch. para. 6(c)

F2 S. 79(2): paragraph (a) and word “or” at the end of the paragraph substituted (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 52, s. 55, Sch. 3 para. 11 (with s. 51(4); S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3

F3 Words in s. 79(2)(b) repealed (11.10.1993) by 1993 c. 28, ss. 124(1), 187(2), Sch. 22; S.I. 1993/2134, arts. 2, 4, Sch. 2 (with Sch. 1 para. 5).

F4 S. 79(5A) inserted (12.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/74, art. 2, Sch. para. 6(d)

F5 S. 79(6)-(10) repealed (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 52, s. 227, Sch. 19 Pt. I; S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 79(1)(2) excluded (1.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, ss. 37, 56(7), Sch. 10 para. 1(2)(c); S.I. 1993/2134, arts. 2, 5

Marginal Citations

M1 1985 c. 68.

M2 1985 c. 68.

M3 1985 c. 70.