Certificates as to the condition of houses and exemption from slum clearance area

(1) Any owner of a dwelling-house, which is occupied or of a type suitable for occupation and in respect of which works of improvement, otherwise than by way of decoration or repair but including fittings and fixtures, or structural alteration are proposed to be executed, may submit a list of the proposed works to the Central Authority with a request in writing that the Central Authority shall inform him whether in its opinion the house would, having due regard to the nature of its site and its relationship to the arrangements of existing roads after the execution of those works, or of those works together with any additional works, be in all respects fit for human habitation and would, with reasonable care and maintenance, remain so fit for a period of at least five years. (2) As soon as may be after receipt of such a list and request as mentioned in subsection (1), the Central Authority shall take the list into consideration and inform the owner whether it is of the opinion as aforesaid or not, and in a case where it is of that opinion, shall furnish him with a list of the additional works, if any, appearing to it to be required. (3) Where the Central Authority has stated that it is of the opinion as described in subsection (1) of this section and the works specified in the list submitted to it, together with any additional works specified in a list furnished by it, have been executed to its satisfaction, it shall, on the application of any owner of the house, issue to him a certificate that the house is in all respects fit for human habitation and will with reasonable care and maintenance remain so fit for a period, being a period of not less than five years nor more than ten years, to be specified in the certificate. (4) During the period specified in a certificate given under this section no action shall be taken under this Part with a view to the demolition of the house as being unfit for human habitation and its reconstruction as part of a slum clearance area.