Local Government and Housing Act 1989

165 Unfit housing etc. E+W

(1) In the Housing Act 1985,—

(a) Part VI (repair notices) shall be amended in accordance with Part I of Schedule 9 to this Act;

(b) Part IX (slum clearance) shall be amended in accordance with Part II of that Schedule;

(c) Part XI (houses in multiple occupation) shall be amended in accordance with Part III of that Schedule;

(d) Part XVII (compulsory purchase and land compensation) shall be amended in accordance with Part IV of that Schedule; and

(e) Part XVIII (miscellaneous and general) shall be amended in accordance with Part V of that Schedule.

(2) Part VII of the Housing Act 1985 (improvement notices) shall cease to have effect.

(3) For any financial year beginning after the day appointed for the coming into force of this subsection the following provisions of this section shall have effect in place of sections 312 to 314 of the Housing Act 1985 (slum clearance subsidy); and in those provisions “slum clearance functions” means any of the functions under the provisions of Part IX of that Act relating to—

(a) the demolition, closing or purchase of unfit premises,

(b) the demolition of obstructive buildings, and

(c) clearance areas,

but does not include functions under sections 308 to 311 of that Act (owner’s redevelopment or improvement).

(4) On such conditions as he may determine the Secretary of State may pay slum clearance subsidy to a local housing authority in respect of any financial year for which, applying such method of calculation as may be determined by the Secretary of State, the authority have incurred a loss in connection with the exercise of their slum clearance functions; and the rate or rates of the subsidy and the manner in which it is paid shall be such as may be determined by him.

(5) If for any financial year, applying such method of calculation as is referred to in subsection (4) above, a local housing authority have incurred a surplus in connection with the exercise of their slum clearance functions, the Secretary of State may require the authority to pay to him such sum as he may determine in respect of that surplus, together with interest thereon from such time and at such rate or rates as he may determine.

(6) Any determination of the Secretary of State under subsection (4) or subsection (5) above—

(a) shall be made with the consent of the Treasury;

(b) may be made generally or with respect to a particular local housing authority or description of authority, including a description framed by reference to authorities in a particular area; and

(c) may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case.

(7) If, before the declaration of a renewal area under Part VII of this Act,a local housing authority are satisfied that the rate of slum clearance subsidy which, in accordance with a determination under subsection (4) above, would otherwise be applicable to the authority will not be adequate, bearing in mind the action they propose to take with regard to the area, they may, before making the declaration, apply to the Secretary of State for a subsidy at a higher rate in respect of that area.

(8) An application under subsection (7) above shall be made in such form and contain such particulars as the Secretary of State may determine; and, if such an application is made, the authority shall not declare the area concerned to be a renewal area until the application is approved, refused or withdrawn.

(9) If an application under subsection (7) above is approved, the Secretary of State may pay slum clearance subsidy in respect of the area concerned at such higher rate as he may determine under subsection (4) above.