C3C5 Part III Housing Action Trust Areas
Pt. 3: power to amend conferred (26.12.2023) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 132, 255(3)(a) (with s. 247)
Disposals of land
C182F2Provision of legal assistance to tenants after disposal.
1
This section applies where a house has been disposed of by a Corporation to disposal falling within section 79(2) above and, in relation to a house provide legal which has been so disposed of, a “transferred tenant” means a tenant of it assistance to who either—
F7a
was the secure tenant, introductory tenant, secure contract holder or introductory standard contract-holder of the house immediately before the disposal; or
F8b
is the widow, widower or surviving civil partner of the person who was then the secure tenant, introductory tenant, secure contract-holder, or introductory standard contract-holder of it.
2
On an application by a transferred tenant of a house who is a party or a prospective party to proceedings or prospective proceedings to determine any dispute between himself and the person who acquired the house on the disposal referred to in subsection (1) above, the F3appropriate authority may give assistance to the transferred tenant if it thinks fit to do so—
a
on the ground that the case raises a question of principle; or
b
on the ground that it is unreasonable, having regard to the complexity of the case, or to any other matter, to expect the transferred tenant to deal with it without assistance; or
c
by reason of any other special consideration.
3
Assistance given by the F3appropriate authority under this section may include—
a
giving advice;
b
procuring or attempting to procure the settlement of the matter in dispute;
C2C4d
arranging for representation by a solicitor or counsel, including such assistance as is usually given by a solicitor or counsel in the steps preli*minary or incidental to any proceedings, or in arriving at or giving effect to a compromise to avoid or bring to an end any proceedings; and
e
any other form of assistance which the F3appropriate authority may consider appropriate;
but paragraph (d) above does not affect the law and practice regulating the descriptions of persons who may appear in, conduct, defend and address the court in any proceedings.
4
In so far as expenses are incurred by the F3appropriate authority in providing a transferred tenant with assistance under this section, the recovery of those expenses (as taxed or assessed in such manner as may be prescribed by rules of court) shall constitute a first charge for the benefit of the F3appropriate authority—
a
on any costs which (whether by virtue of a judgment or order of a court or an agreement or otherwise) are payable to the tenant by any other person in respect of the matter in connection with which the assistance was given, and
b
so far as relates to any costs, on his rights under any compromise or settlement arrived at in connection with that matter to avoid or bring to an end any proceedings;
F45
In this section “the appropriate authority” means—
a
in a case where the disposal mentioned in subsection (1) was to a private registered provider of social housing, the Regulator of Social Housing, and
b
in a case where the disposal mentioned in that subsection was to a registered social landlord, the Welsh Ministers.
Pt. III (ss. 60-92) amended (24.9.1996) by 1996 c. 52, ss. 221(1)(c), 232(2)