Housing Act 1996

Housing management E+W

36 Issue of guidance by [F1 the Welsh Ministers] [F2 – housing in England] . E+W

(1) [F1 The Welsh Ministers] may issue guidance with respect to the management of housing accommodation [F3 in England ] by registered social landlords.

(2) Guidance under [F4 subsection (1) ] may, in particular, be issued with respect to—

(a) the housing demands for which provision should be made and the means of meeting those demands;

(b) the allocation of housing accommodation between individuals;

(c) the terms of tenancies and the principles upon which levels of rent should be determined;

(d) standards of maintenance and repair and the means of achieving those standards;

(e) the services to be provided to tenants;

(f) the procedures to be adopted to deal with complaints by tenants against a landlord;

(g) consultation and communication with tenants;

(h) the devolution to tenants of decisions concerning the management of housing accommodation.

[F5 (i) the policy and procedures a landlord is required under section 218A to prepare and from time to time revise in connection with anti-social behaviour.]

F6 (2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F7 (3) Before issuing any guidance under this section [F1 the Welsh Ministers] shall consult such bodies appearing to [F1 the Welsh Ministers] to be representative of registered social landlords as [F1 the Welsh Ministers] considers appropriate; and where [F1 the Welsh Ministers] issues guidance under this section it shall be issued in such manner as [F1 the Welsh Ministers] considers appropriate for bringing it to the notice of the landlords concerned.

F8 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(5) Guidance issued under this section may be revised or withdrawn; and [F9 subsection (3) applies] in relation to the revision of guidance as in relation to its issue.

(6) Guidance under this section may make different provision in relation to different cases and, in particular, in relation to different areas, different descriptions of housing accommodation and different descriptions of registered social landlord.

(7) In considering whether action needs to be taken to secure the proper management of the affairs of a registered social landlord or whether there has been [F10 misconduct or ] mismanagement, [F1 the Welsh Ministers] may have regard (among other matters) to the extent to which any guidance under this section is being or has been followed.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 61(7), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F2 Words in s. 36 heading inserted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), s. 90(2), Sch. para. 6; S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(k)

F3 Words in s. 36(1) inserted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), s. 90(2), Sch. para. 7(a); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(k)

F4 Words in s. 36(2) substituted (18.1.2005) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(3)(c), Sch. 11 para. 13(2)

F5 S. 36(2)(i) inserted (30.6.2004 for E.) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (c. 38), ss. 12(2), 93; S.I. 2004/1502, art. 2(a)(i)

F6 S. 36(2A) omitted (2.12.2011) by virtue of Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), s. 90(2), Sch. para. 7(b); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(k)

F7 S. 36(3)(4) substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para.87 (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

F8 S. 36(4) repealed (1.4.2010) by The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/866), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 90(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 6, Sch. 3)

F9 Words in s. 36(5) substituted (1.4.2010) by The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/866), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 90(3) (with art. 6, Sch. 3)

F10 Words in s. 36(7) inserted (18.1.2005) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(3)(c), Sch. 11 para. 13(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 36(4) modified (1.12.2008) by The Transfer of Housing Corporation Functions (Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2839), arts. 1(1), 3, Sch. para. 5 (with art. 6)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 36 wholly in force 1.10.1996; s. 36 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 232(1)-(3); s. 36(1)-(6) in force at 1.8.1996 by S.I. 1996/2048, art. 2 and s. 36(7) in force at 1.10.1996 by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3 (with transitional provisions and savings in the Sch.)

37 Powers of entry. E+W

(1) This section applies where it appears to [F1 the Welsh Ministers] that a registered social landlord may be failing to maintain or repair any premises in accordance with [F11 standards set under section 33A or] guidance issued under section 36.

(2) A person authorised by [F1 the Welsh Ministers] may at any reasonable time, on giving not less than 28 days’ notice of his intention to the landlord concerned, enter any such premises for the purpose of survey and examination.

(3) Where such notice is given to the landlord, the landlord shall give the occupier or occupiers of the premises not less than seven days’ notice of the proposed survey and examination.

[F12 (3A)] A landlord [F13 who fails, without reasonable excuse, to give the required notice in relation to premises in Wales] commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

[F14 (3B) A landlord who fails to give the required notice in relation to premises in England commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.]

(4) Proceedings for an offence under subsection [F15 (3A) or (3B)] may be brought only by or with the consent of [F1 the Welsh Ministers] or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(5) An authorisation for the purposes of this section shall be in writing stating the particular purpose or purposes for which the entry is authorised and shall, if so required, be produced for inspection by the occupier or anyone acting on his behalf.

(6) The [F16 Relevant Authority] shall give a copy of any survey carried out in exercise of the powers conferred by this section to the landlord concerned.

(7) The [F16 Relevant Authority] may require the landlord concerned to pay to it such amount as [F1 the Welsh Ministers] may determine towards the costs of carrying out any survey under this section.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 61(7), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F11 Words in s. 37(1) inserted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), s. 90(2), Sch. para. 8; S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(k)

F12 Words in s. 37(3) renumbered as s. 37(3A) (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), ss. 42(2)(a), 90(2); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(d)

F13 Words in s. 37(3A) substituted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), ss. 42(2)(b), 90(2); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(d)

F14 S. 37(3B) inserted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), ss. 42(2)(c), 90(2); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(d)

F15 Word in s. 37(4) substituted (2.12.2011) by Housing (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 5), ss. 42(3), 90(2); S.I. 2011/2475, arts. 1(2), 3(d)

F16 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 82(1)(2) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 37 extended (16.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3, Sch. para. 1

38 Penalty for obstruction of person exercising power of entry. E+W

(1) It is an offence for a registered social landlord or any of its officers or employees to obstruct a person authorised under section 37 (powers of entry) to enter premises in the performance of anything which he is authorised by that section to do.

(2) A person who commits such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) Proceedings for such an offence may be brought only by or with the consent of [F1 the Welsh Ministers] or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Pt. I substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 61(7), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 38 extended (16.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3, Sch. para. 1