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Housing Act 1996

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Chapter VU.K. Miscellaneous and general provisions

Housing complaintsE+W

51 Schemes for investigation of complaints.E+W

(1)The provisions of Schedule 2 have effect for the purpose of enabling tenants and other individuals to have complaints against social landlords investigated by a housing ombudsman in accordance with a scheme approved by the Secretary of State.

(2)For the purposes of that Schedule a “social landlord” means—

[F1(a)a [F2private registered provider] of social housing,]

(b)a transferee of housing pursuant to [F3

(i)a large scale disposal, within the meaning of section 34 of the Housing Act 1985, for which consent was required under section 32 or 43 of that Act; or

(ii)a qualifying disposal that was made] under section 135 of the M1Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993;

(c)a body which has acquired dwellings under Part IV of the M2Housing Act 1988 (change of landlord: secure tenants); or

(d)any other body which was at any time registered with [F4the Regulator of Social Housing or] the [F5Housing Corporation, or with Housing for Wales,] and which owns or manages publicly-funded dwellings.

(3)In subsection (2)(d) a “publicly-funded dwelling” means a dwelling which was—

(a)provided by means of a grant under—

  • [F6section 19 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (financial assistance) where the grant was made on condition that the recipient provides social housing (and “provides social housing” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of that Act),]

  • section 18 of this Act (social housing grant), or

  • section 50 of the Housing Act 1988, section 41 of the M3Housing Associations Act 1985, or section 29 or 29A of the M4Housing Act 1974 (housing association grant); or

(b)acquired on a disposal by a public sector landlord.

(4)The Secretary of State may by order add to or amend the descriptions of landlords who are to be treated as social landlords for the purposes of Schedule 2.

(5)Before making any such order the Secretary of State shall consult such persons as he considers appropriate.

(6)Any such order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

[F7(7)This section shall not apply in relation to social landlords in Wales (within the meaning given by [F8 section 41 of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 ] ).]

[F9(7)Section 52 shall apply to an order under subsection (4) (with any necessary modifications).]

Textual Amendments

F4Words in s. 51(2)(d) inserted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 124(2)(b), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F5Words in s. 51(2)(d) substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para. 90(b) (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I1S. 51 wholly in force 1.4.1997; s. 51 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 232(3); s.51 in force for certain purposes at 1.8.1996 by S.I. 1996/2048, art. 2; s. 51(1) in force so far as not already in force and 51(2)-(6) in force at 1.4.1997 by S.I. 1997/618, art. 2 (subject to the limitation in (2) of that art.)

Marginal Citations

F1051A Social Housing Ombudsman for WalesE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1051BInvestigation of complaintsE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1051CMeaning of “social landlord in Wales”E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Orders and determinationsE+W

52 General provisions as to orders.E+W

(1)The following provisions apply to any power of the [F11Welsh Ministers] under [F12section 2, 17, [F13 27A, ] 39, [F14 50J,] 51 or 55 or Schedule 2] to make an order.

(2)An order may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case.

This includes power to make different provision for different bodies or descriptions of body, different provision for different housing activities and different provision for different areas.

(3)An order may contain such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provisions and savings as the [F11Welsh Ministers] [F15consider] appropriate.

Textual Amendments

F11Words in s. 52(1)(3) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 62(a), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F12Words in s. 52(1) substituted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 38, s. 140, Sch. 16 para.91 (with ss. 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1998/2244, art.5.

F13Word in s. 52(1) inserted (6.4.2006 for E.) by Housing Act 2004 (c. 34), s. 270(4)(5)(f), Sch. 15 para. 41; S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F15Word in s. 52(1)(3) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 62(e), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

53 General provisions as to determinations.E+W

(1)The following provisions apply to determinations of F16... the [F17Welsh Ministers] this Part.

(2)A determination may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case.

This includes power to make—

(a)different provision for different registered social landlords or descriptions of registered social landlord, and

(b)different provision for different housing activities and different provision for different areas;

and for the purposes of paragraph (b) descriptions may be framed by reference to any matters whatever, including in particular, in the case of housing activities, the manner in which they are financed.

(3)In this Part a general determination means a determination which does not relate solely to a particular case.

(4)Before making a general determination, F18... the [F19Welsh Ministers] shall consult such bodies appearing to them to be representative of registered social landlords as they consider appropriate.

(5)After making a general determination, F20... the [F19Welsh Ministers] shall publish the determination in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing the determination to the notice of the landlords concerned.

F2154 Determinations of the [Housing Corporation] requiring approval.E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Minor and consequential amendmentsU.K.

55 Minor and consequential amendments: Part I.U.K.

(1)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 3 have effect with the minor amendments specified there.

(2)The [F22Welsh Ministers] may by order make such amendments or repeals of any enactment as appear to [F23them] necessary or expedient in consequence of the provisions of this Part.

(3)Any such order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of [F24the National Assembly for Wales] .

Textual Amendments

F22Words in s. 55(2) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 62(a), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F23Word in s. 55(2) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 62(d), 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F24Words in s. 55(3) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 63, 325(1); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

Commencement Information

I2S. 55 wholly in force 1.4.1997; s. 55 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 232(3); s. 55(1) in force for certain purposes and s. 55(2)(3) wholly in force at 1.8.1996 by S.I. 1996/2048, artS. 2, 4; s. 55(1) in force for certain purposes at 1.10.1996 by S.I. 1996/2402, art. 3 (subject to the transitional provisions and savings in Sch. para. 1) and in force at 1.4.1997 to the extent it is not already in force by S.I. 1997/618, art. 2 (subject to the limitation in (2) of that art.)

InterpretationE+W

F2656 Meaning of “[F25the Welsh Ministers]”.E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

57 Definitions relating to industrial and provident societies.E+W

(1)In this Part, in relation to an industrial and provident society—

  • F27. . .

  • committee” means the committee of management or other directing body of the society; and

  • co-opted member”, in relation to the committee, includes any person co-opted to serve on the committee, whether he is a member of the society or not.

(2)Any reference in this Part to a member of the committee of an industrial and provident society includes a co-opted member.

Textual Amendments

F27Definition of “appropriate registrar” in s. 57(1) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 356(1)

58 Definitions relating to charities.E+W

(1)In this Part—

(a)“charity” and “trusts”, in relation to a charity, have the same meaning as in the M5Charities Act 1993, and “trustee” means a charitable trustee within the meaning of that Act; and

(b)registered charity” means a charity which is registered [F28in accordance with section 3A] of that Act F29....

[F30(1A)For the purposes of this Part a registered charity has received public assistance if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied—

(a)the charity has received financial assistance under section 24 of the Local Government Act 1988 (assistance for privately let housing accommodation);

(b)the charity has received financial assistance under section 19 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (financial assistance);

(c)the charity has had housing transferred to it pursuant to—

(i)a large scale disposal, within the meaning of section 34 of the Housing Act 1985, for which consent was required under section 32 or 43 of that Act, or

(ii)a qualifying disposal that was made under section 135 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993;

(d)the charity has received a grant or loan under—

(i)section 18 (social housing grants),

(ii)section 22 (assistance from local authorities),

(iii)section 58 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 (grants or loans by local authorities),

(iv)section 50 of the Housing Act 1980, section 41 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 or any enactment replaced by that section (housing association grant),

(v)section 51 of the Housing Act 1988 or sections 54 or 55 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 (revenue deficit grant or hostel deficit grant),

(vi)section 79 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 (loans by Housing Corporation),

(vii)section 31 of the Housing Act 1974 (management grants), or

(viii)any enactment mentioned in paragraph 2 or 3 of Schedule 1 to the Housing Associations Act 1985 (pre-1974 grants and certain loans).]

(2)References in this Part to [F31a company] do not include a company which is a registered charity, except where otherwise provided.

Textual Amendments

F28Words in s. 58(1)(b) substituted (31.1.2009) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 191(a); S.I. 2008/3267, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3-27) (as amended: (29.9.2009) by S.I. 2009/2648, art. 3; (26.7.2010) by S.I. 2010/1942, art. 2; and (1.8.2011) by S.I. 2011/1725, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. para. 6)

F29Words in s. 58(1)(b) repealed (31.1.2009) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 191(b), Sch. 9; S.I. 2008/3267, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3-27) (as amended: (29.9.2009) by S.I. 2009/2648, art. 3; (26.7.2010) by S.I. 2010/1942, art. 2; and (1.8.2011) by S.I. 2011/1725, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. para. 6)

Marginal Citations

59 Meaning of “officer” of registered social landlord.E+W

(1)References in this Part to an officer of a registered social landlord are—

(a)in the case of a registered charity which is not [F32a company] , to any trustee, secretary or treasurer of the charity;

(b)in the case of an industrial and provident society, to any officer of the society as defined in section 74 of the M6Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965; and

(c)in the case of [F33a company (including a company that is a registered charity)] , to any director or other officer of the company within the meaning of [F34the Companies Acts (see sections 250 and 1173(1) of the Companies Act 2006)] .

(2)Any such reference includes, in the case of an industrial and provident society, a co-opted member of the committee of the society.

60 Meaning of “subsidiary”.E+W

(1)In this Part “subsidiary”, in relation to a registered social landlord, means a company with respect to which one of the following conditions is fulfilled—

(a)the landlord is a member of the company and controls the composition of the board of directors;

(b)the landlord holds more than half in nominal value of the company’s equity share capital; or

(c)the company is a subsidiary, within the meaning of [F35the Companies Acts (see section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006)] or the M7Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968, of another company which, by virtue of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), is itself a subsidiary of the landlord.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), the composition of a company’s board of directors shall be deemed to be controlled by a registered social landlord if, but only if, the landlord, by the exercise of some power exercisable by him without the consent or concurrence of any other person, can appoint or remove the holders of all or a majority of the directorships.

(3)In relation to a company which is an industrial and provident society—

(a)any reference in this section to the board of directors is a reference to the committee of management of the society; and

(b)the reference in subsection (2) to the holders of all or a majority of the directorships is a reference—

(i)to all or a majority of the members of the committee, or

(ii)if the landlord is himself a member of the committee, such number as together with him would constitute a majority.

(4)In the case of a registered social landlord which is a body of trustees, references in this section to the landlord are to the trustees acting as such.

61 Meaning of “associate”.E+W

(1)In this Part “associate”, in relation to a registered social landlord, means—

(a)any body of which the landlord is a subsidiary, and

(b)any other subsidiary of such a body.

(2)In this section “subsidiary” has the same meaning as in [F36the Companies Acts (see section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006)] or the M8Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 or, in the case of a body which is itself a registered social landlord, has the meaning given by section 60.

62 Members of a person’s family: Part I.E+W

(1)A person is a member of another’s family within the meaning of this Part if—

(a)he is the spouse [F37 or civil partner ] of that person, or he and that person live together as husband and wife [F38or as if they were civil partners], or

(b)he is that person’s parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.

(2)For the purpose of subsection (1)(b)—

(a)a relationship by marriage [F39 or civil partnership ] shall be treated as a relationship by blood,

(b)a relationship of the half-blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole blood, and

(c)the stepchild of a person shall be treated as his child.

63 Minor definitions: Part I.E+W

(1)In this Part—

  • [F40action” includes inaction, proposed action and decision;]

  • [F41“company” means a company registered under the Companies Act 2006;]

  • dwelling” means a building or part of a building occupied or intended to be occupied as a separate dwelling, together with any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to it or usually enjoyed with it;

  • “fully mutual”, in relation to a housing association, and “co-operative housing association” have the same meaning as in the M9Housing Associations Act 1985 (see section 1(2) of that Act);

  • hostel” means a building in which is provided for persons generally or for a class or classes of persons—

    (a)

    residential accommodation otherwise than in separate and self-contained premises, and

    (b)

    either board or facilities for the preparation of food adequate to the needs of those persons, or both;

  • house” includes—

    (a)

    any part of a building occupied or intended to be occupied as a separate dwelling, and

    (b)

    any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to it or usually enjoyed with it;

  • housing accommodation” includes flats, lodging-houses and hostels;

  • housing activities” means, in relation to a registered social landlord, all its activities in pursuance of the purposes, objects and powers mentioned in or specified under section 2;

  • information” includes accounts, estimates and returns;

  • “local authority” has the same meaning as in the M10Housing Associations Act 1985;

  • “long tenancy” has the same meaning as in Part V of the M11Housing Act 1985;

  • [F40misconduct” includes any failure to comply with the requirements of this Part of this Act;]

  • modifications” includes additions, alterations and omissions and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

  • notice” means notice in writing;

  • public sector landlord” means any of the authorities or bodies within section 80(1) of the Housing Act 1985 (the landlord condition for secure tenancies);

  • “registrar of companies” has the same meaning as in [F42the Companies Acts (see section 1060 of the Companies Act 2006)] ;

  • [F40representations” means representations in writing;]

  • “statutory tenancy” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985.

(2)References in this Part to the provision of a dwelling or house include the provision of a dwelling or house—

(a)by erecting the dwelling or house, or converting a building into dwellings or a house, or

(b)by altering, enlarging, repairing or improving an existing dwelling or house;

and references to a dwelling or house provided by means of a grant or other financial assistance are to its being so provided directly or indirectly.

64 Index of defined expressions: Part I.E+W

The following Table shows provisions defining or otherwise explaining expressions used in this Part (other than provisions defining or explaining an expression used in the same section)—

[F43action section 63]
appointed person (in relation to inquiry into affairs of registered social landlord)paragraph 20 of Schedule 1
F44. . .F44. . .
associate (in relation to a registered social landlord)section 61(1)
assured tenancysection 230
assured agricultural occupancysection 230
assured shorthold tenancysection 230
charitysection 58(1)(a)
committee member (in relation to an industrial and provident society)section 57(2)
[F45company section 63 (and see section 58(2))]
F46. . .F46. . .
co-operative housing associationsection 63
co-opted member (of committee of industrial and provident society)section 57(1)
F47. . .F47. . .
disposal proceeds fundsection 24
dwellingsection 63
enactmentsection 230
fully mutual housing associationsection 63
hostelsection 63
housesection 63
housing accommodationsection 63
housing activitiessection 63
housing associationsection 230
industrial and provident societysection 2(1)(b)
informationsection 63
leasesection 229
local authoritysection 63
[F43local housing authority section 230]
long tenancysection 63
member of familysection 62
[F43misconduct section 63]
modificationssection 63
noticesection 63
officer of registered social landlordsection 59
provision (in relation to dwelling or house)section 63(2)
public sector landlordsection 63
[F43received public assistance section 58(1A)]
register, registered and registration (in relation to social landlords)section 1
registered charitysection 58(1)(b)
registrar of companiessection 63
F48. . .F48. . .
relevant disposal which is not an exempted disposal (in sections 11 to 14)section 15
[F43representations section 63]
secure tenancysection 230
social housing grantsection 18(1)
statutory tenancysection 63
subsidiary (in relation to a registered social landlord)section 60(1)
trustee and trusts (in relation to a charity)section 58(1)(a)

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