Housing Act 1985

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Housing Act 1985 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 03 June 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Schedule N26:

specified provision(s) savings for amendments by 2018 anaw 1, s. 6, Sch. 6 by S.I. 2019/110 reg. 5

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Act savings and transitional provisions for amendments by S.I. 2022/1166 by S.I. 2022/1172 Regulations

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 81A-81D and cross-heading inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 4 (This provision is amended by 2021 c. 7, ss. 79(3), 90(6); S.I 2021/1038, reg. 3(c))
s. 81B(1)(b) words inserted by 2018 c. 11 s. 1(3)
s. 81B(2A)-(2C) inserted by 2018 c. 11 s. 1(2)
s. 81B(2C) words substituted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(a)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
s. 81B(2C) words substituted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(a)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
s. 81B(2D) inserted by 2021 c. 17 s. 79(3)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The insertion of s. 81B by 2016 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 4 is still prospective)
s. 82(A1)(A2) inserted by 2016 c. 22 s. 119(2)(a)
s. 82A(4A)(4B) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 7(2)
s. 86(1A)(1B) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 10(3)
s. 86(1C) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 2
s. 86A-86F and cross-headings inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 11
s. 86G s. 86A renumbered as s. 86G by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 3(1)(a)
s. 86G(8) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 3(2)
s. 88(1)(ba) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 4
s. 89(2A)-(2D) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 5(3)
s. 97(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 12(3)
s. 99A(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 13(3)
s. 115B 115C inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 15
s. 115B 115C inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 15
s. 305(1A) inserted by 2023 asc 3 Sch. 13 para. 68(b)
s. 306(1A) inserted by 2023 asc 3 Sch. 13 para. 69(b)
s. 353A inserted by 1996 c. 52 s. 73(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 73 repealed (6.4.2006 for E., 16.6.2006 for W.) by 2004 c. 34, Sch. 16; S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(e), Sch.; S.I. 2006/1535, art. 2(c), Sch.)
s. 582(6)(aa)-(ac) substituted for s. 582(6)(a) by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(2)(b)
Sch. 1 para. 1ZA and cross-heading inserted by 2016 c. 22 Sch. 7 para. 17(2)
Sch. 5A para. 3(3)(aa) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(3)(b)(ii)
Sch. 5A para. 3(6A) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 18 para. 4(3)(d)

E+W TABLE OF DERIVATIONS

1E+WThe following abbreviations are used in this Table—

Acts of Parliament

1899	= The Small Dwellings Acquisition Act 1899 (c. 44).
1923 (c. 24)	= The Housing &c. Act 1923.
1935 (c. 40)	= The Housing Act 1935.
1936 (c. 49)	= The Public Health Act 1936.
1957	= The Housing Act 1957 (c. 56)
1958	= The Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958 (c. 42).
1959 (H)	= The House Purchase and Housing Act 1959 (c. 33).
1959 (U)	= The Housing (Underground Rooms) Act 1959 (c. 34).
1959 (c. 53)	= The Town and Country Planning Act 1959.
1961 (c. 33)	= The Land Compensation Act 1961.
1961	= The Housing Act 1961 (c. 65).
1961 (c. 64)	= The Public Health Act 1961.
1963 (c. 33)	= The London Government Act 1963.
1964 (c. 9)	= The Public Works Loans Act 1964.
1964	= The Housing Act 1964 (c. 56).
1965 (c. 56)	= The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965.
1965 (c. 75)	= The Rent Act 1965.
1965	= The Housing (Slum Clearance Compensation) Act 1965 (c. 81).
1967 (c. 9)	= The General Rate Act 1967.
1967 (c. 80)	= The Criminal Justice Act 1967.
1968 (c. 13)	= The National Loans Act 1968.
1968 (c. 23)	= The Rent Act 1968.
1968 (c. 42)	= The Prices and Incomes Act 1968.
1969 (c. 19)	= The Decimal Currency Act 1969.
1969	= The Housing Act 1969 (c. 33).
1971 (c. 23)	= The Courts Act 1971.
1971	= The Housing Act 1971 (c. 76).
1971 (c. 78)	= The Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
1972	= The Housing Finance Act 1972 (c. 47).
1972 (c. 70)	= The Local Government Act 1972.
1972 (c. 71)	= The Criminal Justice Act 1972.
1973 (H)	= The Housing Amendment Act 1973 (c. 5).
1974 (c. 7)	= The Local Government Act 1974.
1974 (c. 39)	= The Consumer Credit Act 1974.
1974	= The Housing Act 1974 (c. 44).
1975	= The Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975 (c. 6).
1975 (c. 24)	= The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.
1975 (c. 72)	= The Children Act 1975.
1975 (c. 76)	= The Local Land Charges Act 1975.
1976 (c. 52)	= The Armed Forces Act 1976.
1976 (c. 57)	= The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
1976 (c. 75)	= The Development of Rural Wales Act 1976.
1976 (c. 80)	= The Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976.
1977 (c. 42)	= The Rent Act 1977.
1977 (c. 43)	= The Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
1977 (c. 45)	= The Criminal Law Act 1977.
1977	= The Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 (c. 48).
1978	= The Home Purchase Assistance and Housing Corporation Guarantee Act 1978 (c. 27).
1978 (c. 30)	= The Interpretation Act 1978.
1978 (I)	= The Home Insulation Act 1978 (c. 48).
1980 (c. 43)	= The Magistrate’s Courts Act 1980.
1980	= The Housing Act 1980 (c. 51).
1980 (c. 65)	= The Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
1981 (c. 54)	= The Supreme Court Act 1981.
1981 (c. 64)	= The New Towns Act 1981.
1981 (c. 67)	= The Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
1982 (c. 24)	= The Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1982.
1982 (c. 48)	= The Criminal Justice Act 1982.
(1984 (c. 12)	= The Telecommunications Act 1984.
1984 (c. 22)	= The Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
1984 (c. 28)	= The County Courts Act 1984.
1984	= The Housing and Building Control Act 1984 (c. 29).
1984 (D)	= The Housing Defects Act 1984 (c. 50).
1985 (c. 9)	= The Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985.
1985 (c. 51)	= The Local Government Act 1985.
	Subordinate legislation
S.I. 1972/1204	= The Isles of Scilly (Housing) Order 1972.
S.I. 1973/886	= The Isles of Scilly (Housing) (No. 2) Order 1973.
S.I. 1975/512	= The Isles of Scilly (Housing) Order 1975.
S.I. 1979/72	= The Isles of Scilly (Functions) Order 1979.
S.I. 1981/723	= The Local Authority Contributions (Disposal of Dwellings) Order 1981.
S.I. 1982/1109	= The Crown Court Rules 1982.
S.I. 1983/613	= The Grants by Local Authorities (Eligible Expense Limits) Order 1983.
S.I. 1983/1122	= The Housing (Northern Ireland Consequential Amendments) Order 1983.

2E+WThe Table does not show the effect of Transfer of Functions Orders.

3E+WThe letter R followed by a number indicates that the provision gives effect to the Recommendation bearing that number in the law Commission’s Report on the Consolidation of the Housing Acts (Cmnd. 9515).

4E+WA reference followed by “passim” indicates that the provision of the consolidation derives from passages within those referred to which it is not convenient, and does not appear necessary, to itemise.

5E+WThe entry “drafting” indicates a provision of a mechanical or editorial nature affecting the arrangement of the consolidation; for instance, a provision introducing a Schedule or introducing a definition to avoid undue repetition of the defining words.