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Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

1996 c. 53 · Enacted 24 July 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 1 change made by later legislation has not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 5 October 2026.

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Sch. 1 para. 12omittedLeasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 Sch. 11 para. 22

An Act to make provision for grants and other assistance for housing purposes and about action in relation to unfit housing; to amend the law relating to construction contracts and architects; to provide grants and other assistance for regeneration and development and in connection with clearance areas; to amend the provisions relating to home energy efficiency schemes; to make provision in connection with the dissolution of urban development corporations, housing action trusts and the Commission for the New Towns; and for connected purposes.

[24th July 1996]

C1C2I1E1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: Transfer of functions in relation to Wales (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C2

Act restricted (21.7.1997) by 1997 c. 22, s. 27, Sch. 2 para. 17(3); S.I. 1997/1672, art. 2

Commencement

I1

Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s.150.

Extent

E1

Except as otherwise provided, any amendment or repeal by this Act of an amendment has the same extent as the enactment amended or repealed see s. 148

Contents

  1. Part I: Grants, &c. for renewal of private sector housing
  2. Chapter I: The main grants
  3. Introductory
  4. 1Grants for improvements and repairs, &c.
  5. 2Applications for grants.
  6. Preliminary conditions
  7. 3Ineligible applicants.
  8. 4The age of the property. Repealed
  9. 5Excluded descriptions of works. Repealed
  10. 6Defective dwellings. Repealed
  11. Renovation grants
  12. 7Renovation grants: owner’s applications and tenant’s applications. Repealed
  13. 8Renovation grants: certificates required in case of owner’s application. Repealed
  14. 9Renovation grants: certificates required in case of tenant’s application. Repealed
  15. 10Renovation grants: prior qualifying period. Repealed
  16. 11Prior qualifying period: the ownership or tenancy condition. Repealed
  17. 12Renovation grants: purposes for which grant may be given. Repealed
  18. 13Renovation grants: approval of application. Repealed
  19. Common parts grants
  20. 14Common parts grants: occupation of flats by occupying tenants. Repealed
  21. 15Common parts grants: landlord’s and tenants’ applications. Repealed
  22. 16Common parts grants: certificate required to accompany application. Repealed
  23. 17Common parts grants: purposes for which grant may be given. Repealed
  24. 18Common parts grants: approval of application. Repealed
  25. Disabled facilities grants
  26. 19Disabled facilities grants: owner’s and tenant’s applications.
  27. 20Disabled facilities grants: the disabled occupant.
  28. 21Disabled facilities grants: certificate required in case of owner’s application.
  29. 22Disabled facilities grants: certificates required in case of tenant’s application.
  30. 22ACertificates required in case of occupier’s application
  31. 23Disabled facilities grants: purposes for which grant must or may be given.
  32. 24Disabled facilities grants: approval of application.
  33. HMO grants
  34. 25HMO grants: the interest of the applicant in the property. Repealed
  35. 26HMO grants: certificate required to accompany application. Repealed
  36. 27HMO grants: purposes for which grant may be given. Repealed
  37. 28HMO grants: approval of application. Repealed
  38. Restrictions on grant aid
  39. 29Restriction on grants for works already begun.
  40. 30Means testing in case of application by owner-occupier or tenant.
  41. 31Determination of amount of grant in case of landlord’s application.
  42. 32Apportionment in case of tenants’ application for common parts grant. Repealed
  43. 33Power to specify maximum amount of grant.
  44. Decision and notification
  45. 34Decision and notification.
  46. Payment of grants
  47. 35Payment of grants: general.
  48. 36Delayed payment of mandatory grant.
  49. 37Payment of grants: conditions as to carrying out of the works.
  50. 38Payment of grants: conditions as to contractors employed.
  51. 39Payment of grant to contractor.
  52. 40Applicant ceasing to be entitled before payment of grant.
  53. 41Change of circumstances affecting disabled occupant.
  54. 42Cases in which grants may be re-calculated, withheld or repaid.
  55. 43Repayment where applicant not entitled to grant.
  56. Grant conditions and repayment
  57. 44Grant conditions: introductory.
  58. 45Condition for repayment on disposal: renovation grants. Repealed
  59. 46Condition for repayment on disposal: common parts grants. Repealed
  60. 47Condition for repayment on disposal: HMO grants. Repealed
  61. 48Condition as to owner-occupation: renovation grants. Repealed
  62. 49Condition as to availability for letting: renovation grants. Repealed
  63. 50Conditions as to occupation: HMO grants. Repealed
  64. 51Conditions as to repayment in case of other compensation, &c.
  65. 52Power to impose other conditions with consent of Secretary of State.
  66. 53Meaning of relevant disposal. Repealed
  67. 54Meaning of exempt disposal. Repealed
  68. 55Cessation of conditions on repayment of grant, &c.
  69. Supplementary provisions
  70. 56Provisions relating to death of applicant.
  71. 57Power of local housing authority to carry out works which would attract grant.
  72. 58Minor definitions: Chapter I.
  73. 59.
  74. Chapter II
  75. Introductory
  76. 60Group repair schemes.
  77. 61Qualifying buildings.
  78. 62Scheme works.
  79. 63Approval of scheme by Secretary of State.
  80. Participation in group repair scheme
  81. 64Persons eligible to participate in group repair scheme.
  82. 65Scheme consent and restriction on works.
  83. 66Certificate of completion date.
  84. 67Contributions by participants.
  85. Variation of group repair scheme
  86. 68Variation of group repair scheme.
  87. Conditions of participation
  88. 69Conditions of participation: general.
  89. 70Condition as to payment of balance of cost on disposal.
  90. 71Conditions as to occupation.
  91. 72Meaning of relevant disposal and exempt disposal.
  92. 73Payment of balance of cost, &c: cessation of conditions.
  93. Supplementary provisions
  94. 74Power of Secretary of State to modify operation of Chapter.
  95. 75Index of defined expressions: Chapter II.
  96. Chapter III
  97. 76Home repair assistance.
  98. 77Entitlement to home repair assistance.
  99. 78Assistance in respect of house-boats and mobile homes.
  100. 79Power to make further provision by regulations.
  101. 80Index of defined expressions: Chapter III.
  102. Chapter IV: Deferred action notices, &c.
  103. Deferred action notices
  104. 81Deferred action notices. Repealed
  105. 82Service of deferred action notices. Repealed
  106. 83Appeals against deferred action notices. Repealed
  107. 84Review of deferred action notices. Repealed
  108. 85Guidance by Secretary of State. Repealed
  109. Power to improve enforcement procedures
  110. 86Unfitness for human habitation &c.: power to improve enforcement procedures. Repealed
  111. Power to charge for enforcement action
  112. 87Unfitness for human habitation, &c.: power to charge for enforcement action. Repealed
  113. 88Recovery of charge for enforcement action. Repealed
  114. Supplementary provisions
  115. 89Power to prescribe forms. Repealed
  116. 90Minor definitions: Chapter IV. Repealed
  117. 91Index of defined expressions: Chapter IV. Repealed
  118. Chapter V: Supplementary provisions
  119. Contributions by Secretary of State
  120. 92Contributions by the Secretary of State.
  121. 93Recovery of contributions.
  122. Consent of the Secretary of State
  123. 94Consent of the Secretary of State.
  124. Parsonages, charities, &c.
  125. 95Parsonages, charities, &c.
  126. Interpretation
  127. 96Meaning of “reasonable repair”. Repealed
  128. 97Fitness for human habitation. Repealed
  129. 98Members of a person’s family and connected persons.
  130. 99Meaning of “owner" of dwelling.
  131. 100Disabled persons.
  132. 101Minor definitions: Part I.
  133. Transitional and consequential provisions
  134. 102Transitional provisions.
  135. 103Consequential amendments: Part I.
  136. Part II: Construction contracts
  137. Introductory provisions
  138. 104Construction contracts.
  139. 105Meaning of “construction operations".
  140. 106Provisions not applicable to contract with residential occupier.
  141. 106APower to disapply provisions of this Part
  142. 107Provisions applicable only to agreements in writing. Repealed
  143. Adjudication
  144. 108Right to refer disputes to adjudication.
  145. 108AAdjudication costs: effectiveness of provision
  146. Payment
  147. 109Entitlement to stage payments.
  148. 110Dates for payment.
  149. 110APayment notices: contractual requirements
  150. 110BPayment notices: payee's notice in default of payer's notice
  151. 111Requirement to pay notified sum.
  152. 112Right to suspend performance for non-payment.
  153. 113Prohibition of conditional payment provisions.
  154. Supplementary provisions
  155. 114The Scheme for Construction Contracts.
  156. 115Service of notices, &c.
  157. 116Reckoning periods of time.
  158. 117Crown application.
  159. Part III
  160. The Architects Registration Board
  161. 118The Board and its committees.
  162. 119Registrar and staff.
  163. Registration and discipline
  164. 120Registration.
  165. 121Discipline.
  166. 122Code of practice.
  167. Miscellaneous
  168. 123Offence of practising while not registered.
  169. 124The Education Fund.
  170. 125Supplementary.
  171. Part IV: Grants &c. for regeneration, development and relocation
  172. Financial assistance for regeneration and development
  173. 126Power of Secretary of State to give financial assistance for regeneration and development.
  174. 127Regeneration and development: forms of assistance.
  175. 128Regeneration and development: terms on which assistance is given.
  176. 129Regeneration and development: consequential amendment. Repealed
  177. 130Regeneration and development: Welsh Development Agency.
  178. Relocation grants in clearance areas
  179. 131Resolution by local housing authority to pay relocation grants. Repealed
  180. 132Relocation grants: applications and payments. Repealed
  181. 133Relocation grants: qualifying persons and qualifying dwellings. Repealed
  182. 134Relocation grants: amount. Repealed
  183. 135Relocation grants: condition for repayment on disposal. Repealed
  184. 136Relocation grants: conditions as to owner-occupation. Repealed
  185. 137Relocation grants: cessation of conditions on repayment of grant, &c. Repealed
  186. 138Relocation grants: liability to repay is a charge on dwelling. Repealed
  187. 139Relocation grants: contributions by the Secretary of State. Repealed
  188. 140Minor definitions relating to relocation grants. Repealed
  189. Part V: Miscellaneous and general provisions
  190. Miscellaneous provisions
  191. 141Existing housing grants: meaning of exempt disposal
  192. 142Home energy efficiency schemes.
  193. 143Urban development corporations: pre-dissolution transfers.
  194. 144Housing action trusts: orders for dissolution.
  195. 145The Commission for the New Towns: orders for dissolution. Repealed
  196. General provisions
  197. 146Orders, regulations and directions.
  198. 147Repeals and revocations.
  199. 148Extent.
  200. 149Corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.
  201. 150Commencement.
  202. 151Short title.
  203. Schedule 1: Private sector renewal: consequential amendments
  204. Rent Act 1977 (c.42)
  205. 1Paragraph 1
  206. Housing Act 1985 (c.68)
  207. 2Paragraph 2
  208. 3Paragraph 3
  209. 4Paragraph 4
  210. 5Paragraph 5
  211. 6Paragraph 6
  212. 7Paragraph 7
  213. 8Paragraph 8
  214. 9Paragraph 9
  215. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  216. Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (c.70)
  217. 11Paragraph 11
  218. 12Paragraph 12
  219. Housing Act 1988 (c.50)
  220. 13Paragraph 13
  221. Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c.42)
  222. 14Paragraph 14
  223. 15Paragraph 15
  224. Schedule 2
  225. Part I: New First Schedule to the 1931 Act
  226. 1Paragraph 1
  227. Part II: Other amendments
  228. The 1931 Act
  229. 2Paragraph 2
  230. 3Paragraph 3
  231. 4Paragraph 4
  232. 5Paragraph 5
  233. 6Paragraph 6
  234. 7Paragraph 7
  235. 8Paragraph 8
  236. 9Paragraph 9
  237. 10Paragraph 10
  238. 11Paragraph 11
  239. 12Paragraph 12
  240. 13Paragraph 13
  241. The 1938 Act
  242. 14Paragraph 14
  243. 15Paragraph 15
  244. 16Paragraph 16
  245. 17Paragraph 17
  246. Other enactments
  247. 18Paragraph 18
  248. 19Paragraph 19
  249. 20Paragraph 20
  250. Part III: Transitional provisions and savings
  251. First elections and appointments to the Board
  252. 21Paragraph 21
  253. Registration
  254. 22Paragraph 22
  255. 23Paragraph 23
  256. 24Paragraph 24
  257. 25Paragraph 25
  258. Discipline
  259. 26Paragraph 26
  260. 27Paragraph 27
  261. Pre-commencement removals and disqualifications
  262. 28Paragraph 28
  263. 29Paragraph 29
  264. 30Paragraph 30
  265. Offence of practising while not registered
  266. 31Paragraph 31
  267. 32Paragraph 32
  268. Transfer of Fund
  269. 33Paragraph 33
  270. Supplementary
  271. 34Paragraph 34
  272. 35Paragraph 35
  273. Schedule 3: Repeals and Revocations
  274. IGrants, &c for renewal of private sector housing
  275. IIArchitects
  276. IIIFinancial assistance for regeneration and development