section 54 notice
Has anyone any experience of a Section 54 notice being served on them.

My council want access to my (council) flat to install Digital TV. I dont have a TV, and the installation company only work weekdays (when I am working). So they want me to take time off from work to install something I won't use. Hence the service of a section 54 notice.

help, advice?
(smells-like-victory-v's, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 19:19, 10 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Ask them
if they're willing to pay for the time off. And buy you a TV.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 19:24, Reply)

To be honest
I can't think of any reason they'd need to install anything unless you don't already have TV aerial or for some reason need cable to be able to receive a digital TV signal.

Can't find anything using google about a section 54 notice so I'd be asking the questions workboresme suggested.
( Captain V, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 19:32, Reply)

What does the
notice say?
Are you a council tenant?

I've got no real advice but this sounds very unfair. Citizens advice bureau might be worth a visit.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Tue 16 Sep 2008, 19:47, Reply)

I would think

edit edit: im waffling ignore me
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 20:08, Reply)

I...
...think rachelswipe would be able to help you.
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 20:23, Reply)

Yup, contact Rswipe.
For all your legal, housing or handbag related queries.
( girlinthehole, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 20:51, Reply)

I feel a bit sorry for rswipe
being B3ta's legal whipping-boy and everything.
( Kroney, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 21:28, Reply)

Is it
pursuant to an act - eg S54 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 16 Sep 2008, 23:11, Reply)

morning ms swipe
I dont know. They have threatened to use them on other tenants when its been the installation of essential stuff like new windows, heating etc.

My understaning of the wording is they serve a section 54 which states a time of entry. If I do not permit entry they are allowed to force entry and make the i
nstallation.

thanks for taking the time, I am only a part time poster and did not like to ask you direct.
(smells-like-victory-v's, Wed 17 Sep 2008, 0:17, Reply)

i think
we are talking about the same thing. effectively, if you rent from the council, they are allowed to serve notice on you requiring you to give them access. if you refuse or deny them access, they can apply to court.

i'd need to know a lot more about your agreement with the council and the type of notice/works they want to carry out to be more specific, but the bottom line is usually, the legal system weighs up your right to peace and quiet against the landlord's right to do what he wants with his own property. for example, if you have a flat and the council wants to install digital tv to the whole block in one go, rather than all of the block minus one individual flat, provided you were given reasonable notice and the installation was not a big disturbing job, the landlord would win.

this being said, there are restrictions on what works a s54 notice can be used for.

in all honesty, i'd be inclined to swallow it, i think, but then it's not my flat!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Sep 2008, 9:51, Reply)