Housing and Planning Act 1986

HC Deb 17 February 1988 vol 127 cc673-4W

Mr. Kirkhope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 1986, which would enable local housing authorities to pay home improvement grants for works to the common parts of buildings containing flats, are expected to come into force.

Mr. Waldegrave

The orders required to bring into operation the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act relating to common parts grants came into force today. This will be of considerable benefit to flat-dwellers as, for the first time, discretionary grants will be available to help with the costs of repairing and improving those parts of buildings containing flats, such as roofs and staircases, which lie outside the flats themselves. Local authorities will be able to give common parts grants for a wide range of buildings from large purpose-built mansion blocks to small scale conversions.