Section 56 — Housing Act 1985: Minor definitions.

Minor definitions. 56 1 In this Part— “ CCA ” means a combined county authority established under Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; “ combined authority ” means a combined authority established under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; “ constituent council ” means—

in relation to a combined authority—

a county council the whole or any part of whose area is within the area of the authority, or a district council whose area is within the area of the authority; in relation to a CCA—

a county council for an area within the area of the authority, or a unitary district council for an area within the area of the authority; and here “ unitary district council ” means the council for a district for which there is no county council; “ house ” includes any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to the house or usually enjoyed with it; “ housing accommodation ” includes flats, lodging-houses and hostels, and “ house ” shall be similarly construed; “introductory tenancy” has the same meaning as in Chapter I of Part V of the Housing Act 1996; “ lodging-houses ” means houses not occupied as separate dwellings; “ mayoral CCA ” has the same meaning as in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (see section 57 of that Act); “ mayoral combined authority ” has the same meaning as in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (see section 120 of that Act); “ member of family ” in relation to a person, has the same meaning as in Part V (the right to buy); “ non-mayoral CCA ” has the same meaning as in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (see section 57 of that Act); “ non-mayoral combined authority ” has the same meaning as in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (see section 120 of that Act); “ owner ”, in relation to premises— means a person (other than a mortgagee not in possession) who is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple in the premises, whether in possession or in reversion, and includes also a person holding or entitled to the rents and profits of the premises under a lease of which the unexpired term exceeds three years. “social housing” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. “ two-tier county council that is a strategic authority ” means a county council whose area includes the areas of district councils that is designated as a single foundation strategic authority under section 3 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. 1A In this Part, the following terms have the same meaning as in the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) —

a “ contract-holder ” (see section 7 (see also section 48) of that Act);

b “ dwelling ” (see section 246 of that Act);

c “ introductory standard contract ” (see section 16 of that Act);

d “ occupation contract ” (see section 7 of that Act);

e “ secure contract ” (see section 8 of that Act);

f “ standard contract ” (see section 8 of that Act);

g “ supported standard contract ” (see section 143 of that Act).

2 For the purposes of this Part, something is within the remit of the Regulator of Social Housing if it is related to or affects the provision of social housing by a local housing authority, or county council, in England.