Part 1Housing conditions
Chapter 2Improvement notices, prohibition orders and hazard awareness notices
Enforcement: prohibition orders
32Offence of failing to comply with prohibition order etc.
(1)
A person commits an offence if, knowing that a prohibition order has become operative in relation to any specified premises, he—
(a)
uses the premises in contravention of the order, or
(b)
permits the premises to be so used.
(2)
A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction—
(a)
to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, and
(b)
to a further fine not exceeding £20 for every day or part of a day on which he so uses the premises, or permits them to be so used, after conviction.
(3)
In proceedings against a person for an offence under subsection (1) it is a defence that he had a reasonable excuse for using the premises, or (as the case may be) permitting them to be used, in contravention of the order.