Housing Defects Act 1984
Following the second world war, there was a need for a great deal of new housing, and new construction techniques were adopted, in particular by local authorities and other public bodies. However, these new methods were not without their problems, and prefabricated construction techniques in particular resulted in a large number of defects.
In the 1980’s, these defects were researched by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and in 1984, the Government introduced a scheme to help owners who had unwittingly purchased 'designated defective' types of property from a public authority.
The Housing Defects Act 1984, was described as an ‘…Act to make provision in connection with defective dwellings disposed of by public sector authorities...'
The Secretary of State could designate types of buildings if it appeared that buildings in the proposed class were defective by reason of their design or construction, and by virtue of this having become generally known, their value had been substantially reduced.
The Act was later consolidated into Part XVI of the 1985 Housing Act, and provided for a 90% grant towards the cost of repairing defects, subject to an expenditure limit, or repurchase at 95% of the defect free value.
Local authorities estimated that owners of 31,000 properties would qualify for a grant under the scheme. By February 1994, 90% of eligible owners had already been assisted under the scheme. The last date by which owners of most designated buildings could apply for assistance was 30 November 1994.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Building pathology.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Defects.
- Defective Premises - Liability and Measure of Damages.
- Defective Premises Act.
- Defects correction period.
- Defects liability period.
- Delay damages.
- Design liability.
- Dilapidations.
- Fit for purpose.
- Housing defects.
- Latent defects.
- Patent defects.
- Prefab bungalows.
- Prefabrication.
- The changing form of building worldwide 1984.
- The structural condition of Easiform cavity-walled dwellings (BR 130).
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.