Section 57 — Housing Act 2004: Designations under section 56: further considerations

Designations under section 56: further considerations 57 1 This section applies to the power of a local housing authority to make designations under section 56.

2 The authority must ensure that any exercise of the power is consistent with the authority’s overall housing strategy.

3 The authority must also seek to adopt a co-ordinated approach in connection with dealing with homelessness, empty properties and anti-social behaviour affecting the private rented sector, both—

a as regards combining licensing under this Part with other courses of action available to them, and b as regards combining such licensing with measures taken by other persons.

4 The authority must not make a particular designation under section 56 unless—

a they have considered whether there are any other courses of action available to them (of whatever nature) that might provide an effective method of dealing with the problem or problems in question, and b they consider that making the designation will significantly assist them to deal with the problem or problems (whether or not they take any other course of action as well).

5 In this Act “ anti-social behaviour ” means conduct on the part of occupiers of, or visitors to, residential premises—

a which causes or is likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to persons residing, visiting or otherwise engaged in lawful activities in the vicinity of such premises, or b which involves or is likely to involve the use of such premises for illegal purposes.