Housing Act 1996

Interpretation

56Meaning of “the Corporation”

(1)In this Part “the Corporation” means the Housing Corporation or Housing for Wales, as follows.

(2)In relation to a registered social landlord, or a body applying for such registration, which is—

(a)a registered charity which has its address for the purposes of registration by the Charity Commissioners in Wales,

(b)an industrial and provident society which has its registered office for the purposes of the [1965 c. 12.] Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 in Wales, or

(c)a company registered under the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 which has its registered office for the purposes of that Act in Wales,

• “the Corporation” means Housing for Wales.

(3)In relation to any other registered social landlord or body applying for such registration, “the Corporation” means the Housing Corporation.

(4)Nothing in this Part shall be construed as requiring the Housing Corporation and Housing for Wales to establish the same criteria for registration as a social landlord, or otherwise to act on the same principles in respect of any matter in relation to which they have functions under this Part.

57Definitions relating to industrial and provident societies

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

• “appropriate registrar” has the same meaning as in the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (where it is defined in section 73(1)(c) by reference to the situation of the society’s registered office);

• “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.

58Definitions relating to charities

(1)In this Part—

(a)“charity” and “trusts”, in relation to a charity, have the same meaning as in the [1993 c. 10.] Charities Act 1993, and “trustee” means a charitable trustee within the meaning of that Act; and

(b)“registered charity” means a charity which is registered under section 3 of that Act and is not an exempt charity within the meaning of that Act.

(2)References in this Part to a company registered under the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 do not include a company which is a registered charity, except where otherwise provided.

59Meaning of “officer” of registered social landlord

(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 a company registered under the Companies Act 1985, 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 [1965 c. 12.] Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965; and

(c)in the case of a company registered under the Companies Act 1985 (including such a company which is also a registered charity), to any director or other officer of the company within the meaning of that Act.

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

60Meaning of “subsidiary”

(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 the Companies Act 1985 or the [1968 c. 55.] Friendly 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.

61Meaning of “associate”

(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 the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 or the [1968 c. 55.] Friendly 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.

62Members of a person’s family: Part I

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

(a)he is the spouse of that person, or he and that person live together as husband and wife, 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 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.

63Minor definitions: Part I

(1)In this Part—

• “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 [1985 c. 69.] Housing 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 [1985 c. 69.] Housing Associations Act 1985;

• “long tenancy” has the same meaning as in Part V of the [1985 c. 68.] Housing Act 1985;

• “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 the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985;

• “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.

64Index of defined expressions: Part I

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)—