Section 251: Extension of duration of housing action area.

Housing Act 1985 · 1985 c. 68View on legislation.gov.uk

Part VIII: AREA IMPROVEMENT

The local housing authority may by resolution extend the duration of a housing action area by a period of two years, and may do so more than once.

Written notification of the passing of the resolution must be given by the authority to the Secretary of State at least three months before the date on which the housing action area would otherwise cease to exist.

On recipt of a notification under subsection (2) the Secretary of State shall send a written acknowledgement to the authority.

If it appears to the Secretary of State appropriate to do so, he may, at any time within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which he sent the acknowledgement, notify the authority—

that the duration of the housing action area is not to be extended in accordance with their resolution, or
that he requires more time to consider their extension of the duration of the housing action area.

Where the Secretary of State notifies an authority that he requires more time, he shall on completion of his consideration of the matter notify the authority—

that the duration of the housing action area is not to be extended in accordance with their resolution,
where the extension has already begun to run, that the area is to cease to be a housing action area on such date as may be specified in the notification, or
that he proposes to take no further action with respect to their resolution.

As soon as may be after passing a resolution or receiving a notification from the Secretary of State under this Section (other than a notification that he proposes to take no further action), the local housing authority shall—

publish in two or more newspapers circulating in the locality (of which at least one shall,if practicable, be a local newspaper) a notice of the resolution or, as the case may be stating the effect of the notification, naming a place where a copy of the resolution or notification may be inspected at all reasonable times, and
take such further steps as appear to the authority best designed to secure that the resolution or notification is brought to the attention of persons residing or owning property in the housing action areas concerned.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.