The Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) Regulations 1993

• Citation: S.I. 1993/2241
• Sections: 195

Section 1 Citation, commencement and application

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) Regulations 1993 and shall come into force on 11th October 1993.

(2) These Regulations shall not apply in a case where a notice under section 122(1) of the Housing Act 1985 as it applies where the right to buy is preserved (qualifying person’s notice claiming to exercise the right to buy) was served before these Regulations come into force.

Section 2 Modifications to the Right to Buy

(1) Subject to regulation 3 below, Part V of the Housing Act 1985 (the right to buy) as it applies in the circumstances described in section 171A(1) of the Housing Act 1985 (cases in which right to buy is preserved) has effect subject to the exceptions, adaptations and other modifications specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

(2) Subject to regulation 3, Part V of the Housing Act 1985 as it applies by virtue of paragraph (1) is set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Section 3 Transitional Provisions

(1) In a case where section 142 of the Housing Act 1985 (entitlement to defer completion) continues to apply , Part V of that Act has effect as provided for in regulation 2(1) above subject to the exceptions, adaptations and other modifications specified in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

(2) Part V of the Housing Act 1985 as it applies by virtue of paragraph (1) is set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations subject to the additional provisions or provisions in substitution set out in Schedule 4 to these Regulations.

Section 4 Revocations

The following Regulations are revoked—

the Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) Regulations 1989 ;

the Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) (Amendment) Regulations 1989 ;

the Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 ; and

the Housing (Preservation of Right to Buy) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 .

Section 1

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, in the provisions of Part V, for the expression “secure tenant” and “tenant” substitute the expression “qualifying person”.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply—

(a) to the references to secure tenant in—

section 171A ,

section 185, and

Schedule 9A , paragraph 1;

(b) to the references to tenant in—

section 125A(2)(b), (3)(a) ,

section 125B ,

section 138(2) (second reference only),

section 158(1),

section 171B ,

section 171H(1) ,

section 175(1) ,

section 187 , the definition of “improvement contribution”,

Schedule 4, paragraphs 2 (the final word only), 6(1), 9 and 10,

Schedule 6, Part III , and

Schedule 9A, paragraph 7(3);

(c) to the expressions “former secure tenant”, “joint tenant”, “new tenant”, “public sector tenant”, “tenant condition” and “tenant’s incumbrances”;

(d) to the expressions “secure tenant” and “tenant” when used in a modification made by these Regulations.

(3) In Schedule 6, Part III, for “tenant” substitute the expression “qualifying person” in the following paragraphs—

paragraph 13 (both references),

paragraph 16 (first reference only).

Section 1

In this Schedule—

“cost floor” means the amount mentioned in section 131(1)(a) (limits on amount of discount), and

“relevant costs” means costs to be taken into account for the purposes of section 131(1)(a).

Section 2

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, in the provisions of Part V, for the expression “dwelling-house” or “dwelling-houses” substitute the expression “qualifying dwelling-house” or “qualifying dwelling-houses”.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply—

(a) to the references to dwelling-house in—

section 127(4)(c),

section 130(2)(a), (aa) , and (6),

section 171A to 171H ,

section 183,

section 184 ,

section 187, the definition of “improvement” ,

section 188 ,

Schedule 4, paragraphs 2–4, 6, 7A and 9,

Schedule 5, paragraph 5(2),

Schedule 9A ;

(b) to the references to dwelling-houses in—

Schedule 5, paragraphs 7, 9 to 10, Section 171B, Schedule 9A;

(c) to the expressions “another dwelling-house”, “existing dwelling-house” and “new dwelling-house”, “previous dwelling-house” and “relevant dwelling-house”;

(d) to the expression “dwelling-house” when used in a modification made by these Regulations.

Section 2

Costs shall be treated as relevant costs if, and only to the extent that, they are not administrative costs or interest.

Section 3

Omit section 118(2) (the right to buy).

Section 3

Works of improvement to a qualifying dwelling-house are relevant works but works of repair or maintenance or works to deal with any defect affecting the qualifying dwelling-house are not relevant works.

Section 4

In section 119(2) (qualifying period for right to buy), for “Where the secure tenancy is a joint tenancy” substitute “Where the tenancy held by the qualifying person is a joint tenancy”.

Section 4

Costs incurred on any relevant works shall not be treated as relevant costs if payment for them is made on or after the date of service of the qualifying person’s notice under section 122 (notice claiming to exercise right to buy) unless—

(a) the landlord has before that date entered into a written contract for the carrying out of works; or

(b) the qualifying person has agreed in writing to the carrying out of works and either the works have been carried out not later than the date of service of the landlord’s notice under section 125 (notice of purchase price etc.) or the works will be carried out under the proposed terms of the conveyance or grant.

Section 5

At the end of section 122 (qualifying person’s notice claiming to exercise right to buy) add—

(4) Where the qualifying dwelling-house is occupied by two or more qualifying persons as joint tenants the right to buy may be exercised by such one or more of them as may be agreed between them.

Section 5

(1) The cost floor is an amount equal to the aggregate of the costs which under sub-paragraph (2) may be treated as relevant costs.

(2) The costs which may be treated as relevant costs are the costs incurred by the landlord in respect of—

(a) the acquisition of the qualifying dwelling-house, or

(b) the construction of the qualifying dwelling-house (including development works and the acquisition of land), and

(c) relevant works to the qualifying dwelling-house.

(3) Where the landlord has previously disposed of the qualifying dwelling-house and has subsequently re-acquired it in circumstances in which discount was recovered in whole or part, only the costs of re-acquisition net of any discount recovered shall be taken into account for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a).

Section 6

For section 123(3) (claim to share right to buy with members of family) substitute—

(3) Where by such a notice any members of the qualifying person’s family are validly required to share the right to buy with him, the right to buy the qualifying dwelling-house belongs to the qualifying person and those members jointly and they shall be treated as joint tenants for the purposes, in relation to that qualifying dwelling-house, of the right to buy.

Section 6

An estimate may be made for the purposes of arriving at the cost floor for a qualifying dwelling-house where the amount of any relevant costs or payments for them cannot readily be ascertained.

Section 7

In section 125(5) (landlord’s notice of purchase price and other matters)—

(a) at the end of paragraph (c) insert “and”; and

(b) omit paragraphs (e) and (f).

Section 7

(1) In a case where a landlord is a company, references to the landlord in paragraphs 4(a) and 5(2) and (3) include references to a connected company.

(2) For this purpose “connected company” means a subsidiary or holding company within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Act 1985.

Section 8

In section 125A(2)(b) (estimates and information about service charges), omit the words from “and section 450A” to the end of the subsection.

Section 9

In section 125D(1) (qualifying person’s notice of intention) for the words after “in subsection (2)” substitute “serve a written notice on the landlord stating either that he intends to pursue his claim to exercise the right to buy or that he withdraws that claim.”.

Section 10

In section 127 (value of qualifying dwelling-house)—

(a) in subsection (3)(a) omit “(but subject to sub-paragraph (3) of that paragraph)”; and

(b) for subsection (4) substitute—

(4) The persons referred to in subsection (1)(b) are—

(a) a qualifying person or, where the qualifying person is a qualifying successor, the person who was the qualifying person before him;

(b) where the qualifying person is the former secure tenant, any person who, under the same tenancy, was a secure tenant before him; and

(c) where the qualifying person is the former secure tenant, any member of his family who, immediately before the grant of the secure tenancy, was the secure tenant of the same dwelling-house under another tenancy,

but do not include, in a case where the qualifying person is the former secure tenant whose tenancy has at any time been assigned by virtue of section 92 (assignments by way of exchange), a person who under that tenancy was a secure tenant before the assignment.

Section 11

In section 131 (limits on amount of discount)—

(a) for subsection (1) substitute—

(1) Unless the landlord otherwise agrees—

(a) the discount shall not reduce the price below the amount which, in accordance with Schedule 5A, is to be taken as representing the costs incurred by the landlord in respect of the qualifying dwelling-house and is to be treated as relevant for the purposes of this section;

(b) if the price before discount is below that amount there shall be no discount.

(b) omit subsection (1A) ; and

(c) in subsection (3) omit “or determination”.

Section 12

In section 136 (change of qualifying person after notice claiming right to buy)—

(a) for subsection (1) substitute—

(1) Where, after a qualifying person has given a notice claiming the right to buy, a qualifying successor becomes the qualifying person in relation to the qualifying dwelling-house, the qualifying successor shall be in the same position as if the notice had been given by him and he had been the qualifying person at the time it was given.

(b) in subsection (2) for “former tenant” substitute “former qualifying person”; and

(c) in subsection (6) for “new tenant” substitute “new qualifying person”.

Section 13

In section 137(1) (change of landlord after claiming right to buy)—

(a) after “Where” insert “, other than in a case to which section 171D(1)(a) or section 171E(2)(a) applies (disposal to authority or body satisfying landlord condition for secure tenancies),”; and

(b) for the word “body” in each place in which that word occurs substitute “person”.

Section 14

In section 139(2) (terms and effect of conveyance or grant) for the words before the semi-colon substitute—

The tenancy held by the qualifying person comes to an end on the grant to him of an estate in fee simple, or of a lease, in pursuance of the provisions of this Part

Section 15

For section 140(3) (landlord’s first notice to complete) substitute—

(3) A notice under this section shall not be served earlier than 12 months after the service of the landlord’s notice under section 125 (notice of purchase price and other matters).

Section 16

Omit sections 143 to 153 (right to acquire on rent to mortgage terms).

Section 17

In section 153A(1)(e) and (3)(b) (qualifying person’s notices of delay) omit “or his right to acquire on rent to mortgage terms”.

Section 18

In section 153B (payments of rent attributable to purchase price etc. )—

(a) in subsection (1)(b) omit “or, as the case may be, section 150”;

(b) in subsection (1)(d) omit “or, as the case may be, the notice claiming to exercise the right to acquire on rent to mortgage terms”; and

(c) in subsection (3) omit “or, as the case may be, the tenant’s initial payment”.

Section 19

In section 154 (registration of title), in subsection (1) omit “or” at the end of paragraph (a) and omit paragraph (b).

Section 20

In section 155 (repayment of discount on early disposal)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) for the words from “shall contain” to “no discount)” substitute “may, at the discretion of the landlord, contain (unless there is no discount)”; and

(ii) add at the end of the subsection “but not one the effect of which would be more onerous”;

(b) in subsection (2) omit “In the case of a conveyance or grant in pursuance of the right to buy”;

(c) omit subsection (3) ; and

(d) in subsection (3A) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a) and omit paragraph (b).

Section 21

In section 156 (liability to repay is a charge on the premises)—

(a) in subsections (1) and (3A) for “required by” substitute “imposed by virtue of”;

(b) for subsection (2) substitute—

(2) Subject to subsections (2A) and (2B), the charge has priority immediately after any legal charge securing an amount advanced to the qualifying person by an approved lending institution for the purpose of enabling him to exercise the right to buy.

(c) in subsection (2A)(a) omit “paragraph (a) or (b) of”; and

(d) in subsection (4A) omit paragraph (a).

Section 22

In section 157 (restriction on disposal of qualifying dwelling-houses in National Parks etc.)—

(a) in subsection (1) omit “a local authority, the Development Board for Rural Wales or”;

(b) in subsection (4) omit “the Secretary of State or, where the landlord is a housing association,” and omit the comma after “Corporation”; and

(c) in subsection (5) omit “the Secretary of State or” and the words “he, or as the case may be,” and the comma after “the Corporation”.

Section 23

In section 158 (consideration for reconveyance or surrender under s. 157)—

(a) in subsection (1) for “tenant” substitute “a qualifying person (or his successor in title or a person deriving title under him or his successor)”;

(b) in subsection (2) —

(i) in paragraph (a) for “the covenant required by” substitute “a covenant imposed by virtue of”;

(ii) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a) and omit paragraphs (aa) and (b).

Section 24

In section 162(a) (exempted disposals which end liability under covenants) for “the covenant required by” substitute “a covenant imposed by virtue of”.

Section 25

Omit sections 164 to 170 (various powers of Secretary of State).

Section 26

Omit section 171 (power to extend right to buy, etc.).

Section 27

In section 171A(2) (cases in which right to buy is preserved), omit “the following provisions of”.

Section 28

In section 171B(5)(b) (extent of preserved right: qualifying persons and qualifying dwelling-houses), for “became the statutory tenant or tenant as mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (b)” substitute “acquired the assured tenancy, became the assignee of the assured tenancy or became the tenant, as mentioned in subsection (4)(a), (aa), or (b)”.

Section 29

Omit section 171C (modifications to Part V in relation to preserved right to buy).

Section 30

Omit section 173 (exclusion of shared ownership leases granted under Part V).

Section 31

In section 174 (leases granted under Part V to be treated as long leases at a low rent) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a) and omit paragraph (b).

Section 32

In section 176 (notices) omit subsections (1), (2) and (5).

Section 33

Omit section 177 (errors and omissions in notices).

Section 34

For section 178 (costs) substitute—

(178) An agreement between the landlord and qualifying person claiming to exercise the right to buy is void in so far as it purports to oblige the qualifying person to bear any part of the costs incurred by the landlord in connection with the qualifying person’s exercise of that right

Section 35

In section 179 (provisions restricting right to buy, etc. of no effect)—

(a) for subsection (1)(a) substitute—

(a) the grant of a lease in pursuance of the preserved right to buy, or

(b) omit subsection (2).

Section 36

In section 180 (statutory declarations) for the words from the beginning of the section to “thinks fit” substitute “A landlord may if he thinks fit”.

Section 37

In section 181(1)(b) (jurisdiction of county court) omit “or under a conveyance or grant executed in pursuance of the right to acquire on rent to mortgage terms”.

Section 38

Omit section 182 (power to repeal or amend local Acts).

Section 39

In section 184(2)(a) and (3) (land let with or used for purposes of dwelling-house) omit “or the right to acquire on rent to mortgage terms”.