Citation and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Housing Act 1996 (Commencement No. 10 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1997.

(2) In this Order-

"the Act" means the Housing Act 1996;

"benefit" means housing benefit, council tax benefit or community charge benefits as prescribed pursuant to section 123(1) (income related benefits) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(2); and

"benefit subsidy" means subsidy under sections 135(1) (rate rebate, rent rebate and allowance subsidy) and 140 (community charge benefit subsidy) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(3), section 30(1A) of the Social Security Act 1986(4) and under the Social Security and Housing Benefit Act 1982(5).

Commencement on 1st April 1997

2.-(1) Subject to the transitional provisions and savings in the Schedule to this Order, the following provisions of the Act shall come into force on 1st April 1997-

• section 16,

• section 18 to the extent that it is not already in force,

• section 19,

• sections 20 and 21 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• sections 24 and 25 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• section 26,

• sections 27 to 29 to the extent that they are not already in force,

• section 35(1), (2), (3) and (5),

• section 51(1) in so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 2 that are not already in force, subject to the limitation in paragraph (2) of this article,

• section 51(2) to (6),

• section 55 in so far as it relates the provisions of Schedule 3 which are not already in force,

• section 106 to the extent not already in force,

• section 118,

• sections 121 to 123, and

• section 227 in so far as it relates to the repeal in section 39(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993(6) contained in Part V of Schedule 19 and to Part VI of Schedule 19.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 2 which came into force by virtue of paragraph (1) of this article shall not come into force in relation to any complaint against any social landlord which is or at any time was registered with Housing for Wales.

Commencement on 1st April 1998

3. Section 35(4) of the Act shall come into force on 1st April 1998.

Article 2

SCHEDULETRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND SAVINGS

1. Section 16(2)(c) (right of tenant to acquire dwelling) of the Act does not apply in a case where the dwelling has been acquired after the commencement of this Order by a registered social landlord pursuant to an option which was created or a contract which was entered into before 1st April 1997.

2.-(1) Section 106 (low rent test: extension of rights) of the Act ("section 106") shall not have effect in the following cases.

(2) In so far as it relates to the amendments made to the Leasehold Reform Act 1967(7) by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 9 to the Act, section 106 shall not have effect in a case where the house and premises are held under a tenancy which-

(a)is a shared ownership lease within the meaning of section 622 of the Housing Act 1985(8), and

(b)was granted by a housing association,

whether or not the interest of the landlord still belongs to such an association.

(3) Section 106 shall not have effect in a case where, before 1st April 1997,-

(a)a notice has been given under section 8 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (notice of claim), or

(b)an application has been made under section 27 of that Act (enfranchisement where landlord cannot be found), or

(c)a notice has been given under section 13 or 42 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (notice of claim), or

(d)an application has been made under section 26 or 50 of that Act (applications where landlord cannot be found).

3. Section 118 (estate management schemes in connection with enfranchisement by virtue of section 106) of the Act shall not have effect in a case where, before 1st April 1997, an application has been made to the leasehold valuation tribunal under any of sections 70 to 73 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (applications for approval of proposed estate management scheme).

4. The provisions repealed by Part VI of Schedule 19 (repeals) to the Act shall continue in force, not withstanding their repeal by this Order, for the purposes of any benefit subsidy in relation to any benefit paid or claimed in respect of any period before 1st April 1997.

5. In relation to paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 (administration of housing benefit etc) to the Act, any power in relation to subsidy therein may be exercised in relation to any benefit subsidy paid or claimed in respect of any benefit paid before 1st April 1997.

6. The repeal of section 121 (rent officers: additional functions relating to housing benefit etc) of the Housing Act 1988(9) contained in Part VI of Schedule 19 to the Act shall not have effect in so far as that section has effect for the purposes of section 31 (determination of amount of grant in case of landlord's application) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996(10).

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Subject to the transitional provisions and savings in the Schedule, this Order brings into force-

• the remaining provisions of Part I of the Housing Act 1996 (social rented sector),

• section 106 (low rent test for leasehold enfranchisement: extension of rights),

• section 118 (estate management schemes in connection with enfranchisement by virtue of section 106),

• Part IV of the Act (housing benefit and related matters) (other than section 120), and section 227 in so far as it relates to the repeals specified in article 2.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the Act have been or will be brought into force by a commencement order made before the date of this Order.