The Act – Section by Section Section 1(a) – limitation on recoverable expenses
14.Section 1(a) amends section 44 of the 2003 Act. While, generally, the 2003 Act provides for a local authority to recover expenses for work carried out by them in connection with notices served or work carried out under that Act, section 44(2) restricts liability for expenses in certain circumstances. For example, where that person is not the owner but a trustee (or someone acting in any of the other capacities set out at section 44(2)(a)) and where the funds, rents and other assets held by that person are insufficient to meet the whole demand. Where this twofold test set out in section 44(2) is met, liability is limited to the total amount of funds, rents and other assets held by that person.
15.Section 1(a) extends this restriction on the general entitlement to recover expenses to charging orders where the person involved is acting in a similarly limited capacity. These matters are dealt with at section 1(a)(i) and (ii) of the Act, by means of adjustments to section 44(1) and 44(2)(b) of the 2003 Act, respectively.