Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1931

Procedure where demolition order or closing order made or undertaking given as to user of house.

26.—(1) When a demolition order under this Part of this Act has become operative, the owner or owners of the house to which it applies shall demolish that house and clear and level the site thereof to the satisfaction of the local authority within the time limited in that behalf by the order; and if the house is not demolished and the site thereof so cleared and levelled within that time, the local authority shall enter and demolish the house and clear and level the site thereof and sell the materials thereof, and the provisions of sub-sections (2) (3) (4) and (5) of section 8 of this Act shall apply in relation to any expenses incurred by the authority under this sub-section and to any surplus remaining in the hands of the local authority as they apply in relation to any expenses or surplus in a case where a building is demolished in pursuance of a clearance order.

(2) Any person who, knowing that a closing order has become operative and applies to any premises, or that an undertaking has been given under this Part of this Act that any premises shall not be used for certain purposes specified in the undertaking, uses those premises in contravention of the terms of the order or undertaking, or permits them to be so used, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds and to a further penalty of five pounds for every day or part of a day, on which he so uses them, or permits them to be so used, after conviction.

(3) Where an undertaking has been given under this Part of this Act that any premises shall not be used for human habitation, nothing in the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1923 to 1930, or in any enactment amending those Acts, shall prevent any owner of those premises from obtaining possession thereof.