Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

32 Applications to court in respect of expenses of works

(1) If a local authority seek to recover expenses incurred in undertaking works under section 29(2) above in connection with a building—

(a) where the building is on land to which section 30 above applies, from the Board or the statutory undertakers; or

(b) in any other case, from an occupier of the building; and

(c) they did not serve notice of their proposal to undertake the works under section 29(6) or 30(2) above on the Board or, as the case may be, the statutory undertakers or that occupier,

the person from whom they seek to recover the expenses may apply to the county court for a declaration—

(i) that the works undertaken in connection with the building were unnecessary ; or

(ii) that it was otherwise unreasonable for the local authority to undertake them.

(2) No such application may be made after the expiry of the period of 21 days from the date on which the local authority first requested payment of the expenses.

(3) If the court makes a declaration under subsection (1) above, it may make such order as it thinks fit in respect of the payment of the expenses incurred in connection with the works.