Housing Act 1957

69 Certificates as to condition of houses

(1) Any owner of a house in respect of which works of improvement (otherwise than by way of decoration or repair) or structural alteration are proposed to be executed, may submit a list of the proposed works to the local authority with a request in writing that the authority shall inform him whether in their opinion the house would, after the execution of those works, or of those works together with any additional works, be fit for human habitation and would, with reasonable care and maintenance, remain so fit for a period of at least five years.

(2) As soon as may be after receipt of such a list and request as aforesaid the local authority shall take the list into consideration and shall inform the owner whether they are of opinion as aforesaid or not, and in a case where they are of that opinion, shall furnish him with a list of the additional works (if any) appearing to them to be required.

(3) Where the local authority have stated that they are of opinion as aforesaid and the work specified in the list submitted to them, together with any additional works specified in a list furnished by them, have been executed to their satisfaction, they shall, on the application of any owner of the house, and upon payment by him of a fee of one shilling, issue to him a certificate that the house is fit for human habitation and will with reasonable care and maintenance remain so fit for a period (being a period of not less than five nor more than ten years) to be specified in the certificate.

(4) During the period specified in a certificate given under this section, no action shall be taken under the provisions of this Part of this Act relating to clearance areas with a view to the demolition of the house as being unfit for human habitation, or under sections sixteen to eighteen of this Act.

(5) In this section the expression " improvement " includes the provision of additional or improved fixtures or fittings.