{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/housing-and-regeneration-act-2008/section-256",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/housing-and-regeneration-act-2008/section-256.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2008/17",
  "legislation_title": "Housing and Regeneration Act 2008",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/housing-and-regeneration-act-2008",
  "path": "section/256",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "256",
  "heading": "Restrictions on dealings during inquiry",
  "text": "(1) The regulator may make an order under this section if—\n(a) an inquiry under section 206 is in progress in respect of a private registered provider, and\n(b) either of the following cases applies.\n(2) Case 1 applies if the regulator is satisfied—\n(a) that the affairs of the registered provider have been mismanaged, and\n(b) that the interests of tenants of the registered provider, or its assets, require protection.\n(3) Case 2 applies if as a result of an inquirer's interim report under section 207 the regulator is satisfied that—\n(a) the affairs of the registered provider have been mismanaged, or\n(b) the registered provider has failed to meet a standard under section 194.\n(4) The regulator may order a bank or other person who holds money or securities on behalf of the registered provider not to part with the money or securities without the regulator's consent.\n(5) The regulator may make an order restricting—\n(a) the transactions that may be entered into by the registered provider, or\n(b) the nature and amounts of payments that may be made by it.\n(6) An order under subsection (5) may in particular provide that transactions may not be entered into or payments made without the regulator's consent.\n(6A) If the registered provider is a registered charity, the regulator must notify the Charity Commission if it makes an order under this section.\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(8) An order ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the inquirer's final report under section 207 is made.\n(9) But the regulator—\n(a) may revoke the order before that time;\n(b) may by order extend it for a specified period of up to 6 months.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in s. 256(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2024) by Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (c. 36), s. 46(3), Sch. 3 para. 13(a); S.I. 2024/437, reg. 2(y)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 256(2) substituted (1.4.2024) by Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (c. 36), s. 46(3), Sch. 5 para. 34; S.I. 2024/437, reg. 2(z) (with reg. 5(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 256(3) substituted (1.4.2024) by Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (c. 36), s. 46(3), Sch. 3 para. 13(b); S.I. 2024/437, reg. 2(y)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 256(6A) inserted (20.9.2023) by Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (c. 36), ss. 34(2), 46(3); S.I. 2023/1001, reg. 2(o)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 256(7) omitted (20.9.2023) by virtue of Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (c. 36), ss. 33(b), 46(3); S.I. 2023/1001, reg. 2(n)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 256 in force at 1.4.2010 by S.I. 2010/862, art. 2 (with Sch.)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/17/section/256",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:11:57.313988+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}