The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act,1956
Section 4. Power of competent authority to require improvement of buildings unfit for human habitation
(1) Where the competent authority upon report from any of its officers or other information in its possession is satisfied that any building in a slum area is in any respect unfit for human habitation, it may, unless in its opinion the building is not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit, serve upon the owner of the building a notice requiring him within such time not being less than thirty days as may be specified in the notice to execute the works of improvement specified therein and stating that in the opinion of the authority those works will render the building fit for human habitation.
(2) In addition to serving a notice under this section on the owner, the competent authority may serve a copy of the notice on any other person having an interest in the building whether as lessee, mortgagee or otherwise.
(3) In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether a building can be rendered fit for human habitation at a reasonable expense, regard shall be had to the estimated cost of the works necessary to render it so fit and the value which it is estimated that the building will have when the works are completed.
