177.A local authority has a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent the loss of the applicant’s personal property or to prevent or mitigate damage to it when it becomes subject to the duties set out in subsection (2) if no suitable arrangements have been made or are being made to protect the property and it believes there is a danger that the property will be lost or damaged by reason of the applicant’s inability to protect it or deal with it. The authority continues to be subject to this duty even if the duties set out in subsection (2) come to an end.
178.The duty in subsection (1) is subject to any conditions the authority considers appropriate in a given case. Examples of the kind of conditions which an authority may impose are set out in subsection (4). An authority can take action to protect property even if an applicant is not in priority need.