Prospective
(1)The appropriate national authority may by regulations provide for this Chapter to apply, with or without prescribed modifications, to—
(a)buildings which are not residential properties, or
(b)prescribed descriptions of buildings falling within paragraph (a),
as it applies to residential properties.
(2)The appropriate national authority may by regulations provide for this Chapter to apply, with or without prescribed modifications, to—
(a)newly converted residential properties,
(b)newly converted buildings which are not residential properties, or
(c)prescribed descriptions of residential properties falling within paragraph (a) or buildings falling within paragraph (b),
as it applies to new residential properties.
(3)For the purposes of this Chapter a residential property or other building is newly converted if—
(a)it has been converted but has never been used for its intended purpose,
(b)it is being converted, or
(c)its conversion is being designed.
(4)The appropriate national authority may by regulations provide for circumstances in which a residential property or other building is to be treated as having been converted.
(5)The references in subsections (1)(a) and (b), (2)(b) and (c) and (3) and (4) to buildings include references to—
(a)ancillary land, and
(b)buildings and ancillary land which are being designed or constructed or are to be constructed.
(6)The appropriate national authority may by regulations amend the definition of “purchaser” in section 292(1).
(7)Regulations under subsection (6)—
(a)must ensure that the descriptions of persons falling within the definition on the passing of this Act continue to fall within the definition (but this is without prejudice to the power to amend the text of the definition), and
(b)may, in particular, ensure that descriptions of persons who are taking steps with a view to deciding whether to purchase residential properties are included within the definition.