PART IIE+W PROVISION OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATION

Restriction on service chargesE+W

[F148 Information as to relevant costs.E+W

(1)The payer may require the payee in writing to supply him with a written summary of the costs incurred—

(a)if the relevant accounts are made up for periods of twelve months, in the last such period ending not later than the date of the request, or

(b)if the accounts are not so made up, in the period of twelve months ending with the date of the request,

and which are relevant to the service charges payable or demanded as payable in that or any other period.

(2)The payee shall comply with the request within one month of the request or within six months of the end of the period referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b), whichever is the later.

(3)The summary shall set out those costs in a way showing how they are or will be reflected in demands for service charges and must be certified by a qualified accountant as in his opinion a fair summary complying with this requirement and as being sufficiently supported by accounts, receipts and other documents which have been produced to him.

[F2(3A)The summary shall also state whether any of the costs relate to works in respect of which a grant has been or is to be paid under [F3section 523 of the Housing Act 1985 (assistance for provision of separate service pipe for water supply) or any provision of Chapter I of Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (grants for renewal of private sector housing) or any corresponding earlier enactment].]

(4)Where the payer has obtained such a summary as is referred to in subsection (1) (whether in pursuance of this section or otherwise, he may within six months of obtaining it require the payee in writing to afford him reasonable facilities—

(a)for inspecting the accounts, receipts and other documents supporting the summary, and

(b)for taking copies of extracts from them,

and the payee shall then make such facilities available to the payer for a period of two months beginning not later than one month after the request is made.

(5)A request under this section shall be deemed to be served on the payee if it is served on a person who receives the service charge on behalf of the payee; and a person on whom a request is so served shall forward it as soon as possible to the payee.

(6)A disposal of the house by the payer does not affect the validity of a request made under this section before the disposal; but a person is not obliged to provide a summary or make the facilities available more than once for the same house and for the same period.]