Criminal Law Act 1977

Valid from 03/02/1995

12A Protected intending occupiers: supplementary provisions.E+W

(1)For the purposes of this Part of this Act an individual is a protected intending occupier of any premises at any time if at that time he falls within subsection (2), (4) or (6) below.

(2)An individual is a protected intending occupier of any premises if—

(a)he has in those premises a freehold interest or a leasehold interest with not less than two years still to run;

(b)he requires the premises for his own occupation as a residence;

(c)he is excluded from occupation of the premises by a person who entered them, or any access to them, as a trespasser; and

(d)he or a person acting on his behalf holds a written statement—

(i)which specifies his interest in the premises;

(ii)which states that he requires the premises for occupation as a residence for himself; and

(iii)with respect to which the requirements in subsection (3) below are fulfilled.

(3)The requirements referred to in subsection (2)(d)(iii) above are—

(a)that the statement is signed by the person whose interest is specified in it in the presence of a justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths; and

(b)that the justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths has subscribed his name as a witness to the signature.

(4)An individual is also a protected intending occupier of any premises if—

(a)he has a tenancy of those premises (other than a tenancy falling within subsection (2)(a) above or (6)(a) below) or a licence to occupy those premises granted by a person with a freehold interest or a leasehold interest with not less than two years still to run in the premises;

(b)he requires the premises for his own occupation as a residence;

(c)he is excluded from occupation of the premises by a person who entered them, or any access to them, as a trespasser; and

(d)he or a person acting on his behalf holds a written statement—

(i)which states that he has been granted a tenancy of those premises or a licence to occupy those premises;

(ii)which specifies the interest in the premises of the person who granted that tenancy or licence to occupy (“the landlord”);

(iii)which states that he requires the premises for occupation as a residence for himself; and

(iv)with respect to which the requirements in subsection (5) below are fulfilled.

(5)The requirements referred to in subsection (4)(d)(iv) above are—

(a)that the statement is signed by the landlord and by the tenant or licensee in the presence of a justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths;

(b)that the justice of the peace or commissioner for oaths has subscribed his name as a witness to the signatures.

(6)An individual is also a protected intending occupier of any premises if—

(a)he has a tenancy of those premises (other than a tenancy falling within subsection (2)(a) or (4)(a) above) or a licence to occupy those premises granted by an authority to which this subsection applies;

(b)he requires the premises for his own occupation as a residence;

(c)he is excluded from occupation of the premises by a person who entered the premises, or any access to them, as a trespasser; and

(d)there has been issued to him by or on behalf of the authority referred to in paragraph (a) above a certificate stating that—

(i)he has been granted a tenancy of those premises or a licence to occupy those premises as a residence by the authority; and

(ii)the authority which granted that tenancy or licence to occupy is one to which this subsection applies, being of a description specified in the certificate.

(7)Subsection (6) above applies to the following authorities—

(a)any body mentioned in section 14 of the M1Rent Act 1977 (landlord’s interest belonging to local authority etc.);

(b)the Housing Corporation;

(c)Housing for Wales; and

(d)a registered housing association within the meaning of the M2Housing Associations Act 1985.

(8)A person is guilty of an offence if he makes a statement for the purposes of subsection (2)(d) or (4)(d) above which he knows to be false in a material particular or if he recklessly makes such a statement which is false in a material particular.

(9)In any proceedings for an offence under section 7 of this Act where the accused was requested to leave the premises by a person claiming to be or to act on behalf of a protected intending occupier of the premises—

(a)it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that, although asked to do so by the accused at the time the accused was requested to leave, that person failed at that time to produce to the accused such a statement as is referred to in subsection (2)(d) or (4)(d) above or such a certificate as is referred to in subsection (6)(d) above; and

(b)any document purporting to be a certificate under subsection (6)(d) above shall be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, shall be deemed to have been issued by or on behalf of the authority stated in the certificate.

(10)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (8) above shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.

(11)A person who is a protected intending occupier of any premises shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part of this Act as a protected intending occupier also of any access to those premises.