Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

132 Relocation grants: applications and payments

(1) Where a local housing authority have passed a resolution declaring the power to pay relocation grants to be exercisable as regards a clearance area, they may pay such grants for the purpose of enabling qualifying persons to acquire qualifying dwellings (see section 133).

(2) No relocation grant shall be paid unless—

(a) an application for it is made to the authority by a qualifying person in accordance with the provisions of this section and is approved by them;

(b) the application is accompanied by a certificate falling within subsection (5) in respect of the qualifying dwelling to which the application relates; and

(c) such other conditions (whether as to the dwelling or the interest to be acquired or otherwise) as may be prescribed are fulfilled,

and regulations made under paragraph (c) may provide for particular questions arising under the regulations to be determined by the authority.

(3) An application for a relocation grant shall be in writing and shall specify the qualifying dwelling to which it relates and contain such particulars as may be prescribed.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe a form of application for a relocation grant and an application to which any such regulations apply shall not be validly made unless it is in the prescribed form.

(5) A certificate under this subsection certifies—

(a) that the applicant proposes to acquire an owner’s interest in the qualifying dwelling to which the application relates; and

(b) that he, or a member of his family, intends to live in that dwelling as his (or that member's) only or main residence throughout the grant condition period.

(6) A relocation grant shall be paid in such manner and at such time as the authority may determine having regard to the purpose for which it is paid.

(7) Nothing in section 25 of the [1988 c. 9.] Local Government Act 1988 (consent required for provision of financial assistance) shall apply in relation to any exercise of the power to pay relocation grants.