PART 5

GENERAL

Giving notices and other documents

Additional provision about giving notices etc. to persons occupying or interested in land
81
1
This section applies (in addition to section 80) where a provision of this Act, or of regulations made under it, requires or authorises a notice or other document to be given—
a
to a person as having an estate or interest in land, or
b
to a person as an occupier of land,
(whether the provision uses the expression “give” or any other expression).
2
Where—
a
the document is to be given to a person as having an estate or interest in land, and
b
the name of the person cannot be discovered after making reasonable inquiries,
the document may be addressed to the person as “the owner” of the land (which must be described).
3
Where the document is to be given to a person as being the occupier of land, it may be addressed to the person by name or as “the occupier” of the land (which must be described).
4
Subsection (5) applies—
a
where—
i
a document is to be given to a person as having an estate or interest in land, and
ii
the person’s proper address (within the meaning of section 80) cannot be discovered after making reasonable inquiries;
b
where a document is to be given to a person as being the occupier of land.
5
The document is to be treated as having been properly given if it is addressed to the person, clearly marked as an important communication affecting the person’s land, and is—
a
sent to the land by post and not returned as undelivered,
b
handed to a person who is, or appears to be, resident or employed on the land, or
c
attached conspicuously to an object on the land.
6
This section does not apply where a provision of this Act, or of regulations made under it, requires or authorises a notice or other document to be given to the Crown.
S. 81 in force at 12.9.2025, see s. 92(1)