Housing Act 1957

Eliz2/5-6 c. 56 · Enacted 31 July 1957

Contents

1. Part I: General Provisions as respects Local Authorities
2. 1Local authorities for purposes of this Act
3. 2Approval by Minister of proposals for exercise of local authorities' functions under Parts II and III
4. 3Duty of local authority to inspect district and keep records
5. Part II: Provisions for securing the repair, maintenance and sanitary condition of houses
6. Definition of Standard of Fitness
7. 4Matters to be taken into account in determining whether a house is unfit
8. 5Prohibition of back-to-back houses
9. Obligation of Lessors of Small Houses
10. 6Conditions to be implied on the letting of small houses
11. 7Application of foregoing section to houses occupied by agricultural workers otherwise than as tenants
12. 8Information to be given to tenants of working-class houses
13. Unfit premises capable of repair at reasonable cost
14. 9Power of local authority to require repair of unfit house
15. 10Enforcement of notice requiring execution of works
16. 11Right of appeal
17. 12Power of local authority to buy house found on appeal not to be capable of repair at reasonable cost
18. 13Recovery by lessees of proportion of cost of execution of works
19. 14Charging orders in favour of owner executing works
20. 15Form, effect, etc. of charging orders
21. Unfit premises beyond repair at reasonable cost
22. 16Power of local authority to accept undertaking as to reconstruction or use of unfit house
23. 17Duty of local authority to make demolition or closing order or to purchase house where no undertaking is accepted
24. 18Power to make a closing order as to part of a building
25. 19Service of notice of demolition or closing order or intention to purchase
26. 20Right of appeal against demolition order, etc.
27. 21Content of demolition order
28. 22Demolition orders: recovery of possession of building to be demolished
29. 23Demolition orders: enforcement
30. 24Demolition orders: power to permit reconstruction of condemned house
31. 25Demolition orders: cleansing before demolition
32. 26Demolition orders: substitution of closing order in case of house included in building preservation order, etc.
33. 27Closing orders: general provisions
34. 28Closing orders: substitution of demolition order
35. 29Provisions as to purchase of condemned houses
36. 30Payments in respect of condemned houses which have been well maintained
37. 31Temporary provisions for payments to owner-occupiers and others
38. 32Payments to persons displaced
39. Protection of owners
40. 33Provisions for protection of owners of houses
41. Transitory provisions as respects existing demolition orders
42. 34Temporary occupation of houses subject to existing demolition orders
43. 35Retention of houses subject to existing demolition orders and required to support other buildings
44. Houses let in lodgings
45. 36Power to require execution of works or reduction of number of occupants of house
46. Supplemental
47. 37Date of operation of notices, demands and orders subject to appeal
48. 38Provisions as to appeals under Part II
49. 39Interpretation of Part II
50. 40Saving for certain restrictions in Part III
51. 41Local authority for Part II in London
52. Part III: Clearance and Re-development
53. Clearance Areas
54. 42Power to declare an area to be a clearance area
55. 43Method of dealing with clearance area
56. 44Clearance orders: general provisions
57. 45Clearance orders: recovery of possession of buildings to be demolished
58. 46Clearance orders: temporary retention of houses let to local authorities
59. 47Treatment of land acquired by local authority
60. 48Temporary retention of unfit houses acquired by local authority
61. 49Provisions with respect to property originally belonging to a local authority
62. 50Arrangements where acquisition of land in a clearance area found to be unnecessary
63. 51Power of local authority to purchase cleared land which owners have failed to re-develop
64. 52Local authority for clearance areas in London
65. Transitory provisions as respects houses in clearance areas
66. 53Temporary occupation of houses subject to existing clearance orders
67. 54Power to purchase buildings subject to existing clearance orders
68. Re-development Areas
69. 55Duty of local authority to secure re-development
70. 56Re-development plan
71. 57Purchase of land for purposes of re-development
72. 58Local authority for re-development areas in London
73. General provisions as to land affected by provisions of Part III
74. 59Compensation for land purchased compulsorily
75. 60Payments in respect of well maintained houses
76. 61Temporary provisions for payments to owner-occupiers and others
77. 62Power of entry on land to be purchased by agreement under Part III or appropriated for the purposes of clearance areas
78. 63Power of local authority to make allowances to persons displaced
79. 64Extinguishment of rights of way, easements, etc.
80. 65Provisions as to apparatus of statutory undertakers
81. 66Power to construct streets in clearance areas in London
82. Costs of opposing orders, etc.
83. 67Provisions as to costs of persons opposing orders and as to costs of Minister
84. Re-development and re-conditioning by owners
85. 68Re-development by owners
86. 69Certificates as to condition of houses
87. 70Re-development, &c, by owners: excepted cases
88. 71Local authority for re-development, etc., by owners in London
89. Demolition of obstructive buildings
90. 72Power of local authority to order demolition of obstructive building
91. 73Recovery of possession of building subject to demolition order under Part III
92. 74Effect of order for demolition of obstructive building
93. 75Local authority for demolition of obstructive buildings in London
94. Part IV: Abatement of Overcrowding
95. General provisions
96. 76Duty of local authority to inspect and to make reports and proposals as to overcrowding
97. 77Definition of overcrowding
98. 78Offences in relation to overcrowding
99. 79Power of Minister to increase the permitted number temporarily to meet exceptional conditions
100. 80Power of local authority to authorise the temporary use of a house by persons in excess of the permitted number
101. 81Entries in rent books, information and certificates with respect to the permitted number
102. 82Information as to rights and duties as respects overcrowding
103. 83Duty of landlord to inform local authority of overcrowding
104. 84Right of landlord to obtain possession of overcrowded house
105. 85Enforcement of Part IV
106. 86Duty of medical officers to furnish particulars of overcrowding
107. 87Definitions for purposes of Part IV
108. 88Local authority for overcrowding in London
109. 89Contributions by London County Council to expenses in relation to overcrowding
110. Overcrowding in houses let in lodgings
111. 90Overcrowding in houses let in lodgings
112. Part V: Provision of housing accommodation
113. General powers and duties of local authorities
114. 91Periodical review of housing conditions by local authorities
115. 92Mode of provision of accommodation
116. 93Supplementary powers of providing buildings or land in connection with provision of accommodation
117. 94Power to provide furniture
118. 95Power to provide board and laundry facilities
119. 96Power of local authority to acquire land for provision of accommodation
120. 97Procedure for acquiring land
121. 98Continuance of tenancies of houses compulsorily acquired and to be used for housing purposes
122. 99Appropriation of land for provision of accommodation
123. 100Power to make allowances to persons displaced by purchase under Part V
124. 101Power of entry on land to be purchased by agreement or appropriated for the purposes of Part V
125. 102Land in New Forest
126. 103Power to acquire water rights for houses provided
127. 104Power of disposing of houses provided under Part V
128. 105Other powers of dealing with land acquired or appropriated for provision of accommodation
129. 106Power of Minister to impose conditions on sale of houses and land
130. 107Powers relating to development of land
131. 108Execution of works in connection with housing operation by local authority outside their own area
132. 109Responsibility for roads constructed by local authority outside their own area
133. 110Adjustment of differences between local authorities as to carrying out proposals
134. Management, &c, of local authority's houses
135. 111General responsibility for local authority's houses
136. 112Byelaws for regulation of local authority's houses
137. 113Conditions to be observed in management of local authority's houses
138. 114Reservation of houses for agricultural population
139. 115Power to establish Housing Management Commissions
140. Special provisions for rural districts
141. 116Responsibility of county councils in respect of housing conditions in rural districts
142. 117Agreements by county council for assisting rural district councils in provision of accommodation
143. 118Minister's power to assist rural district councils by acquiring land and erecting houses
144. Housing associations
145. 119Power of local authorities and county councils to promote and assist housing associations
146. 120Arrangements with housing associations for provision of housing
147. 121Arrangements with housing associations for improvement of housing
148. 122Power of local authorities to sell furniture to persons housed by housing associations
149. 123Unification of conditions affecting housing associations' houses
150. 124Power of Minister to recognise central housing association
151. Development corporations
152. 125Provision of housing accommodation by development corporations
153. Miscellaneous
154. 126Power of county councils to provide houses for their employees
155. 127Power of companies, &c, to provide houses for working classes
156. 128Trusts for provision of houses for working classes
157. 129Power of corporate bodies to sell or let land for housing purposes
158. 130Power of water and gas companies to supply on favourable terms
159. 131Exercise of Public Health Act powers for purposes of Part V
160. Provisions as to London
161. 132Local authority for Part V in London other than City
162. 133Exercise by local authorities in London of certain powers for the purposes of Part V
163. Scilly Isles
164. 134Provision of housing accommodation in Isles of Scilly
165. Part VI: Financial Provisions
166. Expenses of local authorities
167. 135Expenses of rural district councils and county councils
168. Borrowing
169. 136Power of local authorities to borrow for purposes of Act
170. 137Borrowing in connection with operations carried out by local authority outside its own area
171. 138Power to issue local housing bonds
172. 139Loans by Public Works Loan Commissioners to local authorities
173. 140Power of local authorities to lend to other authorities
174. Subscription to local savings committees
175. 141Subscriptions by local authorities to local savings committees
176. Capital moneys
177. 142Application of purchase money, etc.
178. Part VII: General
179. Central Housing Advisory Committee
180. 143Central Housing Advisory Committee
181. Re-housing
182. 144Re-housing obligations of undertakers
183. Provisions as to building byelaws, &c
184. 145Building byelaws not to apply to certain buildings
185. 146Relaxation of Building Acts or byelaws in London
186. 147Power of Minister to prescribe a code of byelaws for new streets
187. 148Power of Minister to revoke unreasonable byelaws
188. Provisions as to acquisition, &c. of Land
189. 149Protection of amenities of locality, &c
190. 150Provisions as to commons and open spaces
191. 151Power of local authorities to enforce covenants against owner for the time being of land
192. 152Compensation in certain cases of subsidence
193. 153Donations for housing purposes
194. Procedure of local authorities: Official representations
195. 154Joint action by local authorities
196. 155Buildings situated in districts of more than one local authority
197. 156References by local authority to Public Health and Housing Committee
198. 157Official representations
199. Recovery of possession, entry, &c
200. 158Recovery of possession of controlled houses
201. 159Power of entry for inspection, &c
202. 160Penalty for obstructing execution of Act
203. 161Penalty for preventing execution of repairs, &c
204. Powers of the court for housing purposes
205. 162Power of court to determine lease where premises demolished
206. 163Power of court to authorise owner to execute works on default of another owner
207. 164Power of court to authorise examination of works on unfit premises or for improvement
208. 165Power of court to authorise conversion of houses into several tenements
209. Notices, orders, &c
210. 166Authentication of orders, notices, &c
211. 167Authentication of certificates
212. 168Service of notices, &c., on local authorities
213. 169Service of notices, &c, on persons other than local authorities
214. 170Power of local authority to require information as to ownership of premises
215. Default of local authorities
216. 171Powers of county council and Minister in the event of default of rural district council
217. 172Powers of Minister in event of default by county council in the exercise of transferred powers
218. 173Power of Minister in the event of default of local authority other than rural district council
219. 174Provisions as to orders directing county council to perform obligations of urban district council
220. 175Provisions as to exercise by Minister of powers of a local authority
221. 176Power to vary and revoke certain orders relating to defaults
222. 177Power of London County Council in the event of default of metropolitan borough council
223. General Powers of Minister
224. 178Power of Minister to prescribe forms, etc.
225. 179Dispensation with advertisements and notices
226. 180Provisions as to orders made by Minister
227. 181Local inquiries and reports
228. 182Arrangements between the Minister and other Departments
229. Miscellaneous provisions as to London
230. 183Relations between local authorities in London
231. 184Agreements between the London County Council and other authorities in London
232. 185Agreements between the London County Council and neighbouring authorities as to provision of houses
233. 186Provisions as to medical officers of health in London
234. 187Provisions as to City of London
235. Part VIII: Supplemental
236. 188Powers of Act to be cumulative
237. 189Interpretation
238. 190Consequential amendments
239. 191Repeal and savings
240. 192Construction of references to this Act and to enactments repealed
241. 193Short title, commencement and extent
242. Schedule FIRST: Compulsory Purchase of Land under Part II
243. 1Paragraph 1
244. 2Paragraph 2
245. 3Paragraph 3
246. Schedule SECOND: Payments in respect of Unfit Houses
247. Part I: Ascertainment of Amount Payable for Well-maintained Houses
248. 1Paragraph 1
249. 2Paragraph 2
250. 3Paragraph 3
251. Part II: Payments to Owner-Occupiers and others in respect of Unfit Houses Purchased or Demolished
252. Private dwellings
253. 4Paragraph 4
254. 5Paragraph 5
255. Business premises
256. 6Paragraph 6
257. Interpretation
258. 7Paragraph 7
259. Schedule THIRD: Compulsory Purchase of Land under Part III
260. Part I: Procedure for Authorising Compulsory Purchases
261. General
262. 1Paragraph 1
263. 2Paragraph 2
264. Procedure for orders for the compulsory purchase of land within, surrounded by or adjoining a clearance area
265. 3Paragraph 3
266. 4Paragraph 4
267. Procedure for orders for compulsory purchase of land for purposes of re-development
268. 5Paragraph 5
269. 6Paragraph 6
270. Part II: Incorporation of Enactments
271. 7Paragraph 7
272. 8Paragraph 8
273. 9Paragraph 9
274. 10Paragraph 10
275. Part III: Rules as to the Assessment of Compensation where Land Purchased otherwise than at Site Value
276. 1Paragraph 1
277. 2Paragraph 2
278. 3Paragraph 3
279. 4Paragraph 4
280. 5Paragraph 5
281. 6Paragraph 6
282. Schedule FOURTH: Validity and Date of Operation of Certain Orders under Part III
283. 1Paragraph 1
284. 2Paragraph 2
285. 3Paragraph 3
286. 4Paragraph 4
287. 5Paragraph 5
288. Schedule FIFTH: Clearance Orders
289. 1Paragraph 1
290. 2Paragraph 2
291. 3Paragraph 3
292. 4Paragraph 4
293. 5Paragraph 5
294. 6Paragraph 6
295. Schedule SIXTHNumber of Persons permitted to use a House for Sleeping
296. ANNEX
297. Schedule SEVENTH: Compulsory Purchase of Land under Part V
298. 1Paragraph 1
299. 2Paragraph 2
300. Schedule EIGHTH: Local Housing Bonds
301. 1Paragraph 1
302. 2Paragraph 2
303. 3Paragraph 3
304. 4Paragraph 4
305. 5Paragraph 5
306. 6Paragraph 6
307. 7Paragraph 7
308. Schedule NINTH: Rehousing by Undertakers
309. 1Paragraph 1
310. 2Paragraph 2
311. 3Paragraph 3
312. 4Paragraph 4
313. 5Paragraph 5
314. 6Paragraph 6
315. 7Paragraph 7
316. 8Paragraph 8
317. 9Paragraph 9
318. 10Paragraph 10
319. 11Paragraph 11
320. Schedule TENTH: Adaptation of References to Enactments in Housing Acts
321. The Local Government Act, 1933
322. 1Paragraph 1
323. 2Paragraph 2
324. 3Paragraph 3
325. The County Courts Act, 1934
326. The London Government Act, 1939
327. 1Paragraph 1
328. 2Paragraph 2
329. The Town and Country Planning Act, 1944
330. 1Paragraph 1
331. 2Paragraph 2
332. The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954
333. The Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act, 1955
334. The Rent Act, 1957
335. Schedule ELEVENTHRepeals