This Order may be cited as the Housing Act 1996 (Commencement No. 10 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1997.

In this Order—

• “the Act” means the Housing Act 1996;

• “benefit” means housing benefit, council tax benefit or community charge benefits as prescribed pursuant to section 123(1) (income related benefits) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19922; and

• “benefit subsidy” means subsidy under sections 135(1) (rate rebate, rent rebate and allowance subsidy) and 140 (community charge benefit subsidy) of the Social Security Administration Act 19923, section 30(1A) of the Social Security Act 19864 and under the Social Security and Housing Benefit Act 19825.

Subject to the transitional provisions and savings in the Schedule to this Order, the following provisions of the Act shall come into force on 1st April 1997—

• section 16,

• section 18 to the extent that it is not already in force,

• section 19,

• sections 20 and 21 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• sections 24 and 25 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• section 26,

• sections 27 to 29 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• section 35(1), (2), (3) and (5),

• section 51(1) in so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 2 that are not already in force, subject to the limitation in paragraph (2) of this article,

• section 51(2) to (6),

• section 55 in so far as it relates the provisions of Schedule 3 which are not already in force,

• section 106 to the extent not already in force,

• section 118,

• sections 121 to 123, and

• section 227 in so far as it relates to the repeal in section 39(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 19936 contained in Part V of Schedule 19 and to Part VI of Schedule 19.

The provisions of Schedule 2 which came into force by virtue of paragraph (1) of this article shall not come into force in relation to any complaint against any social landlord which is or at any time was registered with Housing for Wales.