The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Costs recoverable from owner to be a charge on land

28.—(1) Where any costs are recoverable under these Regulations from a person who is the owner of land and the enforcing authority serves a notice on that person under this regulation—

(a) the costs carry interest, at such reasonable rate as the enforcing authority may determine, from the date of service of the notice until the whole amount is paid; and

(b) subject to the following provisions of this section, the costs and accrued interest are a charge on the land.

(2) A notice served under this regulation shall—

(a) specify the amount of the costs that the enforcing authority claims is recoverable;

(b) state the effect of paragraph (1) and the rate of interest determined by the enforcing authority under that subsection; and

(c) state the effect of paragraphs (4) to (6).

(3) On the date on which the enforcing authority serves a notice on a person under this regulation the enforcing authority shall also serve a copy of the notice on every other person who, to the knowledge of the enforcing authority, has an estate in the land capable of being affected by the charge.

(4) Subject to any order under paragraph (7)(b) or (c) below, the amount of any costs specified in a notice under this regulation and the accrued interest is a charge on the land—

(a) as from the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of service of the notice; or

(b) where an appeal is brought under paragraph (6) below, as from the final determination of the appeal;

until the costs and interest are recovered.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), the withdrawal of an appeal has the same effect as a final determination of the appeal.

(6) A person served with a notice or copy of a notice under this regulation may appeal against the notice to the county court within the period of 21 days beginning with the date of service.

(7) On such an appeal the court may—

(a) confirm the notice without modification;

(b) order that the notice is to have effect with the substitution of a different amount for the amount originally specified in it; or

(c) order that the notice is to be of no effect.

(8) A charge under this regulation may be recovered by the same means and in the like manner in all respects as if it were a mortgage by deed created by the owner of the estate in favour of the enforcing authority and, for the recovery thereof, the enforcing authority may exercise the powers conferred by sections 19, 21 and 22 of the Conveyancing Act 1881(1) on mortgages by deed.

(9) In this regulation “owner”, in relation to any land, means a person (other than a mortgagee not in possession) who, whether in that person’s own right or as trustee for any other person, is entitled to receive the rack rent of the land or, where the land is not let at a rack rent, would be so entitled if they were so let.

(1)

1881 c.41