Public Works Loans Act 1875

Recovery of Loans

18Charge on property and priority of loan by the Commissioners

Where a loan is granted by the Loan Commissioners on the security of a mortgage of any property (whether with or without any other security), the property from and after the date of the mortgage shall be charged with the payment to the use of Her Majesty of the loan with interest as in the mortgage mentioned, in priority, save so far as otherwise specified in the mortgage, over every other debt, mortgage, or charge whatsoever affecting the property, except any loan due to any creditor not assenting to such priority which has been advanced in good faith before the loan advanced by the Commissioners and secured by a mortgage of the property executed to a person who is entitled as a bona fide creditor to the repayment thereof with interest.

Provided that if there is more than one such creditor and not less than four fifths in value of such creditors consent in writing that the said charge shall have priority over the loans and mortgages of such creditors, in such case the loans and mortgages of all such creditors, as well those who have not agreed as those who have agreed, shall be postponed to the loan granted by the Commissioners and to the said charge thereof, and to the security for the same.

Nothing in any special Act, and no rule of law or custom shall affect the priority given by this section, except so far as the special Act negative such priority in terms expressly referring to this Act.

19Charges on rate of loan and loan not to be repudiated by locality having had the benefit of it

Where a loan is granted by the Loan Commissioners on the security of a mortgage of any rate (whether with or without any other security) such rate from and after the date of the mortgage shall be charged with the payment to the use of Her Majesty of the loan with interest as in the mortgage mentioned.

Where the loan has been granted to any borrower who appeared to the Commissioners to have power to levy and mortgage such rate and has been expended upon the work in respect of which or in or for the benefit of the locality in which such rate or any part thereof is levied, the mortgage of the rate for securing the repayment of the loan with interest shall be valid, and may be enforced in pursuance of this Act, notwithstanding any defect in the power or title of the borrower by whom the mortgage purports to be granted; and in particular the Commissioners may, although such borrower was not legally constituted or is dissolved, or is otherwise incapable and always was incapable of making, levying, or mortgaging such rate, have the same power of making and levying and enforcing the making or levying the said rate for the purpose of repaying such loan and interest, and all other sums due under the mortgage, as if such borrower had been duly constituted, and was not dissolved, and had had full power to make, levy, and mortgage such rate."

20Securities to be taken in name of secretary

All securities for any loan granted by the Loan Commissioners in pursuance of this Act may be given to the secretary of the Commissioners on their behalf. Every such security is in this Act referred to as a security given to the Commissioners.

21Taking possession by Commissioners of property on default of payment

Where a mortgage of property has been given to secure any loan granted by the Loan Commissioners, and default is made in making payment according to the terms of such mortgage, then at any time after such default and without any consent on the part of any person interested in the equity of redemption of the mortgaged property, the Commissioners, without prejudice to any other remedy, shall have power to do all or any of the following things; namely,

(1)Take possession of the mortgaged property, or any part thereof; and

(2)Grant any lease of the mortgaged property, or any part thereof, for such term and upon such reasonable conditions as they may think expedient, and that either for a premium or rent, or both; and

(3)Sell or mortgage the mortgaged property, or any part thereof.

22Powers of Commissioners when in possession

The Loan Commissioners, when authorised to take possession of any mortgaged property, may take possession either by themselves or by any person appointed by them (whether such person is interested in the mortgaged property or not), and upon possession of any mortgaged property being so taken,—

(1)All the estate, right, interest, powers, authorities, and privileges, of what nature or kind soever, which were at the time of the making of the mortgage or may for the time being be vested in or exerciseable by the mortgagor or any person claiming through or under the mortgagor, either in relation to the property or necessary for carrying on and managing the same, shall become vested in the secretary of the Commissioners ; and

(2)The Commissioners may by themselves or any person appointed as aforesaid manage and carry on the; property, and receive the revenue arising therefrom, or in any way receivable in respect thereof, or otherwise, in pursuance of the mortgage, and exercise all or any of the powers, and authorities vested in their secretary by this Act; and

(3)The Commissioners or their secretary or such person as aforesaid shall not be liable for the repairs or maintenance of the mortgaged property, but may apply any moneys received in respect thereof or raised from any rate towards such repairs or maintenance to such extent as the Commissioners may think expedient; and

(4)The Commissioners may, with the consent of the Treasury, advance out of moneys at their disposal under this Act sums for the completion, repair, improvement, or security of the mortgaged property, and every such sum shall be deemed and shall be a loan secured on the property and repayable with the like interest from the time of the advance, and by the like person, and shall have the like priority and be recoverable in the like manner as if it were part of the original loan secured by the said mortgage ; and

(5)If the revenue received from or in respect of the property is insufficient to keep down the current expenses of working, maintaining, and repairing the same, together with the instalments of principal and the interest for the time being due on the mortgage, and no rate or no sufficient rate can be levied to meet the deficiency, the Commissioners may, with the consent of the Treasury, destroy or cause to be destroyed, or (if they sell the same) authorise the purchaser with the like consent to destroy the same, and sell or authorise the purchaser to sell the materials thereof and other the articles, goods, and effects belonging thereto, and neither the Commissioners, nor their secretary, nor the purchaser so authorised, nor his representatives, shall be liable in damages or otherwise to any person whomsoever for such destruction; and the provisions of this Act with respect to the sale of any mortgaged property shall apply to any sale under this section ; and

(6)Possession under this Act may be relinquished at such time and in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the Commissioners think fit, and upon such relinquishment all powers, authorities, and privileges' which on the taking of possession became vested in the secretary of the Commissioners shall, so far as they are not reserved, revert to and become vested in the person in whom the same would have been vested if possession had not been taken, but the Commissioners may, if they think fit, on the relinquishment of possession, reserve any of the said powers, authorities, and privileges, with a view to the payment of any sum due to them:

(7)Every such relinquishment of possession of any mortgaged property shall be without prejudice to the power of again taking possession thereof under the provisions of this Act.

23Powers in relation to rate where default made

Where a loan made by the Commissioners is secured by the mortgage of a rate (whether with or without any other security), and the Commissioners might, if such loan were secured upon a mortgage of property, take possession of such property, the Commissioners may, without prejudice to any other remedy, by notice in writing served at the office or last known place of address of the mortgagor, or where from any cause the same cannot be so served by notice in writing published in the prescribed manner, declare their intention to exercise the powers conferred by this Act, and thereupon the Commissioners shall have and may exercise the same power as the mortgagor of making and levying the rate mortgaged, and for that purpose the Commissioners or their secretary with their concurrence may appoint an officer who, subject to the direction of the Commissioners, shall have and may exercise the same powers, authorities, and duties as if he had been appointed by the mortgagor.

The Commissioners, in making an estimate of the rate to be levied for the purpose of paying any sum due, may add such sum as they think sufficient for defraying and may defray thereout all costs, charges, and expenses, including remuneration to any officer or other person employed, incurred, by the Commissioners in the execution of their powers under this section or otherwise by reason of the default in payment.

Any balance remaining in the hands of the Commissioners shall be paid by them to the mortgagor.

The Commissioners may, by a like notice, declare their intention to relinquish the powers conferred by this section, and that either absolutely or with reservations and conditions, and thereupon all such powers shall revest in the mortgagor, subject to the said reservations and conditions.

24Liability of Commissioners after taking possession, or in default of payment

When the Loan Commissioners have taken possession of any property under this Act, or exercised the powers conferred by this Act in relation to any rate, neither they nor their secretary, nor any person appointed by them in that behalf, shall be liable to account to any person interested in the equity of redemption in such property or rate for any moneys which, but for their wilful neglect or default, they or he might have received when so in possession or exercising such powers, or for any moneys other than those which have actually come to their or his hands.

25Sale and mortgage by Commissioners of mortgaged premises

Where the Loan Commissioners have power to sell or mortgage, they shall have power to sell or mortgage either together or in parcels, by public auction or private contract, and subject to such conditions as to title or evidence of title or otherwise as the Commissioners may think proper.

They may also buy in at any auction and rescind any contract for sale or mortgage, and resell or remortgage, without being responsible for any loss occasioned thereby.

Where a sale cannot be made in the ordinary way for a sum equal to the amount remaining due under the mortgage, the Loan Commissioners may, if they think fit, sell in such manner and subject to such conditions, stipulations, and agreements as they may think expedient for the purpose of ensuring the completion or carrying on of the work comprised in such mortgage by the purchaser thereof, with a view to the public good or general benefit or for any other purpose, notwithstanding such conditions, stipulations, and agreements may be prejudicial to the sale, or may not be beneficial to the persons interested in the equity of redemption in the property.

The Loan Commissioners may for the purpose of any sale or mortgage execute all such agreements, conveyances, and instruments as they may think fit.

26Purchaser not liable to see to the validity of sale or application of money

Every sale or mortgage made by the Commissioners or their secretary, and purporting to be made in pursuance of this Act, shall, so far as regards the interest of the purchaser and mortgagee, be deemed to be valid, and the purchaser or mortgagee shall not be bound to see or inquire whether the sale or mortgage is authorised, nor in the case of a mortgage whether the money raised is required to be raised, nor as to the necessity or expediency of or authority for making the conditions, stipulations, or agreements subject to which the sale or mortgage was made, nor otherwise as to the propriety or regularity of such sale or mortgage, nor be affected by express notice as to any matters into which he is not bound to see or inquire.

The receipt in writing of the Bank of England, or one of their cashiers or other proper officer for the purpose of the Bank of England, or other prescribed receipt, shall be a full discharge for the money paid on the sale or mortgage, and the person paying the same shall not be bound to see to the application of such money, or be liable or in any manner accountable for the misapplication or non-application thereof.

27Terms of lease, sale, or mortgage

Any lease, mortgage, conveyance, or other disposition made by the secretary of the Commissioners under this Act of any mortgaged property may be in the prescribed form, and shall convey to the person in whose favour such lease, mortgage, conveyance, or other disposition is made, and according to the terms thereof, all or any part of the estate, right, interest, powers, authorities, and privileges, which under the mortgage and this Act are vested in or capable of being exercised by the Loan Commissioners, or their secretary, either before or after possession taken, and the same shall thereupon be vested in and may be exercised and put in force by such person accordingly.

Nothing in this Act shall operate to invalidate or affect the rights of any person entitled bona fide to any debt, estate, or interest, having priority over or ranking pari passu with the loan granted by the Commissioners, or the security for such loan, or the rights of any lessee under any lease made either prior to such security or with the concurrence of the Commissioners.

28Application of money arising on taking possession, sale, mortgage, &c. by Commissioners

Any money arising from the taking possession, lease, sale, mortgage, or other disposition under this Act by or under the direction of the Loan Commissioners of any mortgaged property shall be applied first in discharge of all costs, charges, and expenses incurred by or under the direction of the Commissioners in respect thereof, or otherwise by reason of the default in payment, and secondly in discharge of the whole of the principal of the loan secured by the mortgage and for the time being unpaid (notwithstanding that the same or any instalment thereof may not have become actually due), and in discharge of all interest accrued due on such principal, and of all other sums (if any) due under the mortgage.

The surplus (if any) of such money either shall be paid to the mortgagor or other person or persons entitled thereto, or, if the Commissioners think fit, shall be paid by the secretary of the Commissioners into the Court of Chancery in England in like manner as if he were a trustee of such money for the persons entitled thereto, and the court may make such orders for the payment and distribution of such money to or among those persons as may from time to time seem to the court just.

29Payment of loan before it is due, and transfer of security for all or part of loan

The Loan Commissioners may, if they think fit, at anytime accept payment of the whole or any part of the principal and interest of any loan or other moneys secured by any mortgage under this Act before the time when the same is due; and may release or convey the mortgaged property or rate to the person paying the same, or as he may direct, upon such terms and conditions and in such manner and form as the Commissioners may think expedient.

The person in whose favour any conveyance of the mortgaged property or rate under this section is made shall, subject to any limitations inserted therein, be entitled to the like priorities, powers, and authorities as the Commissioners or their secretary were entitled to, either subject to or with priority over or concurrently with any priorities, powers, and authorities reserved to the Commissioners by the conveyance.

The Commissioners shall have full power to enter into and concur in all such arrangements as they may deem expedient for the purposes of carrying into effect a release or conveyance under this section.

30Discharge of security and revesting of property on repayment of loan

Upon all money due under a mortgage under this Act being fully paid the Commissioners shall, when required, give in the prescribed manner to the person liable to the payment thereof a receipt in writing for the same, and such further sufficient discharge (if any) as may seem to the Commissioners to be necessary, and upon such receipt being given the mortgage rate shall be released from the charge and the mortgaged property, or the part thereof not sold or disposed of under this Act shall, (unless the Commissioners, on the request and at the expense of the person paying the said money, make any other disposition thereof,) revest in the person who would have been entitled thereto if the mortgage had not been made, subject nevertheless to any lease, mortgage, or other act previously made or done by or under the direction of the Commissioners.

31Bankruptcy of debtor

Where an individual liable to pay as principal or surety the principal or interest of any loan under this Act becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or enters into any composition or arrangement with his creditors, or has his affairs liquidated by arrangement, or takes the benefit of, or becomes subject to the provisions of any Act passed for the relief of persons in debt, or for enabling the property of such persons to be distributed among their creditors, or where any company liable to pay as principal or surety the principal or interest of any loan under this Act becomes bankrupt or is wound up, the whole of such loan shall become due immediately, notwithstanding that the date for the payment thereof or part thereof has not arrived, unless in the case of a surety the Commissioners think fit to accept some other surety.

32Form of mortgage

Every security given under this Act may be in such form as may be prescribed, and the fact of the secretary of the Loan Commissioners being a party thereto shall be conclusive evidence that the same is in the prescribed form, and every such security shall be valid and effectual to pass all the estate, right, and interest purporting to be passed thereunder by the parties executing the same, subject to the provisions of this Act.

33Recovery of debt on personal security

Every sum payable under any security made in pursuance of this Act shall be made payable to the use of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, and may be recovered as a specialty debt due to the Crown, in like manner as if the security had been made in the form provided by the Act of the thirty-third year of the reign of Henry the Eighth, chapter thirty-nine ; but no person shall be liable for any larger sum than that which he is expressed to be bound to pay.

Every sum payable in respect of a loan granted by the Loan Commissioners (either before or after the passing of this Act) or under the security for such loan, shall be compounded for or released only under the authority of Parliament in each case.

The Loan Commissioners may issue a warrant to the proper officer forthwith to enforce payment of such debt to the Crown as aforesaid, and if necessary to enter satisfaction therefor, and shall have the control over any proceedings taken to enforce such debt, and such proceedings shall not be discontinued, quashed, or abated without the written authority of the Loan

The Court of Exchequer, or other competent court, or any judge thereof, may, upon the production of the said warrant, direct an immediate writ of extent, or of diem clausit extremum, to issue without any writ of scire facias or any affidavit or other proof of the cause of the proceeding.

Nothing in this Act shall render it the duty of the Loan Commissioners to issue such warrant or to register such writ or debt, unless they are of opinion that it is necessary for the purpose of securing the payment of the debt, or that otherwise under the particular circumstances it is expedient so to do.

34Recovery of loan after the expiration of term for repayment

The expiration of the period within which a loan under this Act is made repayable (whether such period is the full period allowed by this or the special Act or a shorter period) shall not in any way affect any power of the Loan Commissioners of recovering or enforcing payment of any sum due in respect of such loan.