Local Government and Housing Act 1989

Changes over time for: Section 173

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Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Section 173 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 April 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.

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

s. 65(2)(b)(ii) inserted by 2004 c. 23 Sch. 2 para. 11 (Pt. IV repealed (18.11.2003 for E. for the repeal of ss. 45, 53, 27.11.2003 for W. for the purpose of and in relation to financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2004, and 1.4.2004 for E. in so far as not already in force) by Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26), s. 128(6), Sch. 7 para. 29; S.I. 2003/2938, arts. 3(h), 7(b) (with art. 8, Sch.); S.I. 2003/3034, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (with Sch. 2 para. 2))
s. 76A 76B inserted by 2014 c. 29 s. 24(2)
s. 87(1A) inserted by 2014 c. 29 s. 24(5)

173 Consent required for subsequent disposals.E+W

(1)Where a dwelling which is for the time being subject to a secure tenancy [F1or, in Wales, a secure contract] is transferred under section 172 above to a person approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) of that section (in this section referred to as an “approved person”), that person shall not dispose of it except—

(a)with the consent of the [F2appropriate authority], which may be given either unconditionally or subject to conditions; or

(b)by an exempt disposal, as defined in [F3section 133(11)] of the M1Housing Act 1988;

and any reference in the following provisions of this section to an initial transfer is a reference to the transfer of a dwelling to an approved person under section 172 above.

[F4(1ZA)Subsection (1) does not apply to a disposal of land by a private registered provider of social housing.]

[F5(1A)In this section “the appropriate authority” means—

F6(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)in relation to [F7a] disposal of land in England, the Secretary of State, and

(c)in relation to a disposal of land in Wales, the Welsh Ministers.]

(2)Where an estate or interest in a dwelling of the approved person who acquired it on the initial transfer has been mortgaged or charged, the prohibition in subsection (1) above applies also to a disposal by the mortgagee or chargee in exercise of a power of sale or leasing, whether or not the disposal is in the name of the approved person; and in any case where—

(a)by operation of law or by virtue of an order of a court, the dwelling which has been acquired on the initial transfer passes or is transferred from the approved person to another person, and

(b)that passing or transfer does not constitute a disposal for which consent is required under this section,

this section (including, where there is more than one such passing or transfer, this subsection) shall apply as if the other person to whom the dwelling passes or is transferred were the approved person.

(3)Where subsection (1) above applies—

(a)the new town corporation by whom the initial transfer is made shall furnish to the approved person a copy of the consent of the Secretary of State under section 172(4) above; and

(b)the instrument by which the initial transfer is effected shall contain a statement in a form approved by the Chief Land Registrar that the requirement of this section as to consent applies to a subsequent disposal of the dwelling by the approved person.

(4)For the purposes of this section the grant of an option to purchase the fee simple or any other interest in a dwelling is a disposal and a consent given to such a disposal extends to a disposal made in pursuance of the option.

(5)Before giving any consent required by virtue of this section, the [F8appropriate authority]—

(a)shall satisfy [F9itself] that the person who is seeking the consent has taken appropriate steps to consult every tenant of any dwelling proposed to be disposed of; and

(b)shall have regard to the responses of any such tenants to that consultation.

F10(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)No consent shall be required under F11... [F12section F13... 42 of the Housing Act 1996 or section 9 of the Housing Associations Act 1985] for any disposal in respect of which consent is given [F14under this section].

(8)Where the title of the new town corporation to the dwelling which is transferred by the initial transfer is not registered, and the initial transfer is a [F15transfer or grant] of a description mentioned in [F16section 4 of the Land Registration Act 2002] (compulsory registration of title)—

F17(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)the corporation shall give the approved person a certificate in a form approved by the Chief Land Registrar stating that the corporation is entitled to make the transfer subject only to such encumbrances, rights and interests as are stated in the instrument by which the initial transfer is effected or summarised in the certificate; and

(c)for the purpose of registration of title, the Chief Land Registrar shall accept such a certificate as evidence of the facts stated in it, but if as a result he has to meet a claim against him under the [F18Land Registration Act 2002] the corporation by whom the initial transfer was made is liable to indemnify him.

[F19(9)Where the Chief Land Registrar approves an application for registration of—

(a)a disposition of registered land, or

(b)a person’s title under a disposition of unregistered land,

and the instrument effecting the initial transfer contains the statement required by subsection (3) above, he shall enter in the register a restriction reflecting the limitation under this section on subsequent disposal.]

(10)In this section—

(a)“dwelling” and “new town corporation” have the same meaning as in section 172 above;F20...

(b)“secure tenancy” has the meaning assigned by section 79 of the M2Housing Act 1985 [F21; and]

[F22(c)“secure contract” has the same meaning as in section 8 of the Renting Homes Wales Act 2016 (anaw 1).]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 173(1) inserted (1.12.2022) by The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1166), regs. 1(1), 18(3)(a)

F2Words in s. 173(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 191(4)(a), 325(1) (with s. 189); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F3Words in s. 173(1)(b) substituted (15.8.2018) by The Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Act 2018 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/870), regs. 1(2), 2(a)

F4S. 173(1ZA) inserted (6.4.2017) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 4 para. 5(2); S.I. 2017/75, reg. 4

F5S. 173(1A) inserted (1.4.2010) by Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17), ss. 191(4)(b), 325(1) (with s. 189); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)

F6S. 173(1A)(a) omitted (6.4.2017) by virtue of Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 4 para. 5(3)(a); S.I. 2017/75, reg. 4

F7Word in s. 173(1A)(b) substituted (6.4.2017) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 4 para. 5(3)(b); S.I. 2017/75, reg. 4