Land Acquisition and Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1973

Claims N.I.

6.—(1) A claim under this Part shall be made by serving on the responsible authority a notice containing particulars of—

(a) the land in respect of which the claim is made;

(b) the claimant's interest and the date on which, and the manner in which, it was acquired;

(c) the claimant's occupation of the land (except where the interest qualifies for compensation without occupation);

(d) any other interests in the land so far as known to the claimant;

(e) the public works to which the claim relates;

(f) the amount of compensation claimed;

(g) any land contiguous or adjacent to the land in respect of which the claim is made, being land to which the claimant was entitled in the same capacity (within the meaning of Article 9) on the relevant date.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Article and of Articles 15 and 16, no claim shall be made otherwise than in the claim period, that is to say, the period of two years beginning on the expiration of twelve months from the relevant date.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not preclude the making of a claim in respect of an interest in land before the beginning of the claim period if—

(a) the claimant has during the said twelve months made a contract for disposing of that interest or (in so far as the interest is in land which is not a dwelling) for the grant of a tenancy of that land; and

(b) the claim is made before the interest is disposed of or the tenancy is granted;

but compensation shall not be payable before the beginning of the claim period on any claim made by virtue of this paragraph.

(4) Where notice of a claim has been served on a responsible authority, any person authorised in writing by that authority (in this Article referred to as an “authorised person”) may, on production if required of his credentials, at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of survey, valuation or examination in connection with the claim.

(5) A power of entry under paragraph (4) shall not be exercisable in relation to any land except—

(a) with consent given by the occupier of the land; or

(b) after at least twenty-four hours' notice of intended entry has been served on the occupier or owner of the land.

(6) If any person, other than the owner or occupier of the land, knowingly prevents or obstructs an authorised person in the exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph (4) he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F1 level 3 on the standard scale].

(7) If any person, being the owner or occupier of land, knowingly prevents or obstructs an authorised person in the exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph (4), a court of summary jurisdiction on proof thereof may order him to permit to be done on the land all things requisite for carrying into effect the survey, valuation or examination; and, if he fails to comply with the order, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall, for every day during which the failure continues, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F1 level 2 on the standard scale].

(8) Where under paragraph (4) an authorised person enters any land, he shall ensure that the land is not left less secure by reason of the entry, and the responsible authority shall make good or pay compensation for any damage to property caused by, or in consequence of, the authorised person exercising any right under paragraph (4) or failing to perform any duty under this paragraph.

(9) Any reference in this Article to an occupier or to an owner shall be construed as including a reference to a person appointed in writing by the occupier or owner as his representative for purposes including all or any of the purposes of this Article.

(10) Any power conferred by paragraph (4) shall be construed as including power to search and bore for the purpose of ascertaining the course of any sewers or drains or of ascertaining the nature of the subsoil therein and to take and carry away for examination specimens of the subsoil found therein.

(11) Where compensation is payable by a responsible authority on a claim there shall be payable by the authority, in addition to the compensation, any reasonable valuation or legal expenses incurred by the claimant for the purposes of the preparation and prosecution of the claim; but this paragraph is without prejudice to the powers of the Lands Tribunal in respect of the costs of proceedings before the Tribunal by virtue of Article 18.

F1 1984 NI 3