Part 6Other provisions about housing

Chapter 5Miscellaneous

Overcrowding

216Overcrowding

1

The appropriate national authority may by order make such provision as it considers appropriate for and in connection with—

a

determining whether a dwelling is overcrowded for the purposes of Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68) (overcrowding);

b

introducing for the purposes of Chapter 3 of Part 4 of this Act a concept of overcrowding similar to that applying for the purposes of Part 10 (and accordingly removing the discretion of local housing authorities to decide particular issues arising under those sections);

c

securing that overcrowding in premises to which Chapter 3 of Part 4 of this Act would otherwise apply, or any description of such premises, is regulated only by provisions of Part 10.

2

An order under this section may, in particular, make provision for regulating the making by local housing authorities of determinations as to whether premises are overcrowded, including provision prescribing—

a

factors that must be taken into account by such authorities when making such determinations;

b

the procedure that is to be followed by them in connection with making such determinations.

3

An order under this section may modify any enactment (including this Act).

4

In this section—

a

any reference to Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 includes a reference to Part 10 as modified by an order under this section; and

b

enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)).