Previously social landlords could only use ground 6 of the Housing Act 1988 if the superior landlord intended to carry out redevelopment work. The amendments to ground 6 will enable social landlords to take possession where redevelopment work cannot reasonably be carried out without the tenant giving up possession of the dwelling-house. Under the "additional RSL condition" relevant social landlords will be required to provide alternative accommodation which meets certain criteria specified in case A or B, depending on which case applies.
	Section 22 of the Act amends section 11 of the Housing Act 1988 (payment of removal expenses in certain cases) so that social landlords are required to pay removal expenses to tenants when the court awards possession under ground 6 (redevelopment). Social landlords are also required to pay reasonable expenses in moving the tenant from alternative accommodation provided temporarily under case B of the "additional RSL condition" in ground 6. Compulsory purchase is a legal mechanism by which certain bodies (known as "acquiring authorities") can acquire land without the consent of the owner. To do so, the body must be authorised by statute, meet set statutory criteria, follow a specified statutory process and be able to demonstrate that the acquisition is in the public interest. It is used, for instance, to support the delivery of a range of development, regeneration and infrastructure projects in the public interest.
	The exception to the six-month initial restriction on the use of the redevelopment ground at subparagraph (3) will enable acquiring authorities to make best use of property that is scheduled to be demolished or significantly redeveloped within one year and which cannot be used for long term tenancies without delaying planned works.
Schedules Schedule 1: Changes to grounds for possession Amendments of Ground 6: redevelopment Background