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 upon a report from the local authority 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 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 these works will render building fit for human habitation : Provided that where the owner of the building is different from the owner of the land on which the building stands and the works of improvement required to be executed relate to provision of water taps, bathing places, construction of drains, open or covered, as the case may be, provision of water borne latrines or removal of rubbish and such works are to be executed outside the building, the notice shall be served upon the owner of the land. (2) In addition to serving 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 or the land on which the building stands 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.