Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

General powers exercisable as a result of inquiry or audit

18 (1) Where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied, as the result of an inquiry under paragraph 16 or an audit under paragraph 17, that there has been misconduct or mismanagement in the affairs of a registered social landlord, they may—

(a) remove any officer, agent or employee of the landlord who appears to the Scottish Ministers to have been responsible for or privy to the misconduct or mismanagement or to have by that person’s conduct contributed to it or facilitated it,

(b) suspend such a person for up to six months—

(i) pending determination whether the person should be removed, and

(ii) if it is determined that the person should be removed, pending the person’s removal,

(c) direct any bank or other person who holds money or securities on behalf of the landlord not to part with the money or securities without the approval of the Scottish Ministers,

(d) restrict the transactions which may be entered into, or the nature or amount of the payments which may be made, by or in the administration of the landlord without the approval of the Scottish Ministers.

(2) If at any time the appointed person makes an interim report under paragraph 16(7) and, as a result of that interim report, the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that there has been misconduct or mismanagement as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) the Scottish Ministers may at that time exercise any of the powers conferred by paragraphs (b) to (d) of that sub-paragraph, and

(b) in relation to the exercise at that time of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (1)(b), the reference in that provision to a period of six months is to be construed as a reference to a period beginning at that time and ending six months after the date of the report under paragraph 16(8).

(3) Before exercising their power under sub-paragraph (1)(a) the Scottish Ministers must give at least 14 days' notice of their intention to do so to the person they intend to remove and to the registered social landlord.

(4) Notice under sub-paragraph (3) may be given by post, and if so given to the person whom the Scottish Ministers intend to remove may be addressed to that person’s last known address in the United Kingdom.

(5) A person who is removed under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or suspended under sub-paragraph (1)(b) may appeal to the Court of Session.

(6) Where a person is suspended under sub-paragraph (1)(b), the Scottish Ministers may give directions with respect to the performance of the person’s functions and otherwise as to matters arising from the suspension.

(7) A person who fails to comply with a direction under sub-paragraph (1)(c) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both.