Housing Act 1985

Supplementary provisionsE+W

54 Powers of entry.E+W

(1)A person authorised by a local housing authority or the Secretary of State may, at any reasonable time, on giving 24 hours’ notice of his intention to the occupier, and to the owner if the owner is known, enter premises for the purpose of survey and examination—

(a)where it appears to the authority or Secretary of State that survey or examination is necesary in order to determine whether any powers under this Part should be exercised in respect of the premises, or

(b)in the case of premises which the authority are authorised by this Part to purchase compulsorily.

(2)An authorisation for the purposes of this section shall be in writing stating the particular purpose or purposes for which the entry is authorised [F1and shall, if so required, be produced for inspection by the occupier or anyone acting on his behalf].

[F2(3)A person may not be authorised by a local housing authority under subsection (1)(a) to enter and survey or value land in connection with a proposal to acquire an interest in or a right over land (but see section 172 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016).]

55 Penalty for obstruction.E+W

(1)It is a summary offence [F3intentionally] to obstruct an officer of the local housing authority, or of the Secretary of State, or any person authorised to enter premises in pursuance of this Part, in the performance of anything which he is by this Part required or authorised to do.

(2)A person who commits such an offence is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding [F4level 3] on the standard scale.

56 Minor definitions.E+W

[F5(1)]In this Part—

• “house” includes any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to the house or usually enjoyed with it;

• “housing accommodation” includes flats, lodging-houses and hostels, and “house” shall be similarly construed;

• [F6“introductory tenancy” has the same meaning as in Chapter I of Part V of the Housing Act 1996;]

• “lodging-houses” means houses not occupied as separate dwellings;

• “member of family” in relation to a person, has the same meaning as in Part V (the right to buy);

• “owner”, in relation to premises—

(a)means a person (other than a mortgagee not in possession) who is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple in the premises, whether in possession or in reversion, and

(b)includes also a person holding or entitled to the rents and profits of the premises under a lease of which the unexpired term exceeds three years.

• [F7“social housing” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.]

[F8(1A)In this Part, the following terms have the same meaning as in the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1)—

(a)“contract-holder” (see section 7 (see also section 48) of that Act);

(b)“dwelling” (see section 246 of that Act);

(c)“introductory standard contract” (see section 16 of that Act);

(d)“occupation contract” (see section 7 of that Act);

(e)“secure contract” (see section 8 of that Act);

(f)“standard contract” (see section 8 of that Act);

(g)“supported standard contract” (see section 143 of that Act).]

[F9(2)For the purposes of this Part, something is within the remit of the Regulator of Social Housing if it is related to or affects the provision of social housing by a local housing authority, or county council, in England.]

57 Index of defined expressions: Part II.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 or paragraph):—