Housing Act 1957

48Temporary retention of unfit houses acquired by local authority

(1)Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act a local authority by whom an area has been declared to be a clearance area may postpone, for such period as may be determined by the authority, the demolition of any houses on land purchased by or belonging to the authority within that area, being houses which in the opinion of the authority are or can be rendered capable of providing accommodation of a standard which is adequate for the time being, and may carry out such works as may from time to time be required for rendering or keeping such houses capable of providing such accommodation as aforesaid pending their demolition.

(2)Where the demolition of any houses in a clearance area is postponed under the foregoing subsection, the local authority may also postpone the taking of any proceedings under section forty-three of this Act in respect of any buildings (other than houses) within that area; and the provisions of subsection (4) of that section as to the time within which compulsory purchase orders may be submitted shall not apply to the purchase of any land in the area, other than houses, or to the purchase of any land surrounded by or adjoining the area.

(3)Where a local authority are satisfied, in the case of a house on land purchased by or belonging to them within a clearance area, not being a house retained by them for temporary use for housing purposes, that—

(a)it is required for the support of a house which is so retained, or

(b)there is some other special reason why it should not be demolished for the time being, and the reason is connected with the exercise of the authority's powers under subsection (1) of this section in relation to the clearance area,

then, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act the authority may retain the house for the time being and shall not be required to demolish it so long as, in the case mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection, it is required for the purpose therein referred to, or, in any other case, the said powers are being exercised by the authority in relation to that area.

(4)In respect of any houses retained by a local authority under this section for temporary use for housing purposes the local authority shall have the like powers as they have in respect of houses provided under Part V of this Act and section six of this Act shall not apply to a contract for the letting by a local authority of any such houses.