The Act – Overview Disinfection etc. of premises and things Section 76 Power of local authority to disinfect etc. premises or things
152.This section provides that a local authority may take the steps set out in the notice served on a person under section 73 if it appears to the local authority that it is not reasonably practicable for that person to take those steps.
153.In order to do so, the authority must serve notice on the occupier of the premises or, where the premises are unoccupied, on the owner of them, requiring the person to given an authorised officer access to undertake the steps. Where a notice is served under this section on the occupier of the premises, this should be copied to the owner, if that is not the same person. The notice may be served only if the local authority competent person certifies that the relevant criteria have been met.
154.Subsection (5) sets out that the notice must specify the steps which must be taken and the period in which they must be taken. Under subsection (6), the authorised officer may enter the premises; may take any other person authorised by the officer (and a constable if the officer has reasonable cause to expect serious obstruction in obtaining access); may direct that the premises (or any part of them) or any thing in or on them is left undisturbed for as long as the officer considers appropriate; may take the steps specified in the notice, and may remove any thing from the premises for the purpose of taking any steps at another place.
155.Subsection (7) provides that an authorised officer who enters any unoccupied premises by virtue of this section must leave the premises as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as the officer found them.