Explanatory Notes

Housing Act 2004

2004 CHAPTER 34

Thursday 18 November 2004

Commentary on Sections

Part 1 - Housing Conditions

Chapter 2 – Improvement Notices, Prohibition Orders and Hazard Awareness Notices
Section 16: Revocation and variation of improvement notice

92.Section 16 provides for the revocation and variation of improvement notices.

93.Subsection (1) requires an LHA to revoke an improvement notice if they are satisfied that the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

94.Where the notice relates to more than one hazard, this requirement applies to each of the hazards individually (see subsection (3)).

95.Subsection (2) provides a discretionary power for an LHA to revoke an improvement notice. In the case of a notice served under section 11 (in respect of a category 1 hazard), they may only do so if they are satisfied that there are special circumstances making it appropriate to revoke the notice. A notice served under section 12 (in respect of a category 2 hazard) may be revoked where the LHA considers that it is appropriate.

96.Subsection (3) provides that, where an LHA is required by subsection (1) to revoke only part of a notice that relates to a number of hazards, they may vary the remainder of the notice, as they consider appropriate.

97.Subsection (4) enables an LHA to vary an improvement notice, either with the agreement of the person on whom it was served or, where the notice has been suspended under section 14, without their agreement but only to alter the time or events triggering the end of the suspension.

98.Subsection (5) provides that a revocation comes into force when it is made and subsection (6) provides that, where a variation is made with the agreement of the person on whom it is served, the variation shall come into force when it is made. If a variation is made without such agreement, the notice will become operative 28 days after the date on which the decision was made or, if an appeal against a variation or revocation is made, it will not come into force until the appeal has been dealt with (see subsection (7)).

99.Subsection (8) provides that an LHA may revoke or vary an improvement notice either in response to an application from the person on whom the notice was served, or on their own initiative.