An Improvement Notice (IN) is a legal document issued by the local authority in the United Kingdom under the Housing Act 2004. It is issued when the local authority is of the opinion that a property is in breach of certain statutory requirements and requires the landlord to undertake certain repairs, improvements or other works to the property. The purpose of the Improvement Notice is to ensure that the property is brought up to the required standard and is fit for habitation.
The scope of the Improvement Notice covers a range of issues such as disrepair, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, dangerous structural defects and other matters relating to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants. The notice will set out the actions that must be taken to remedy the breach and a specified time period in which to carry out the works. Failure to comply with the notice can result in the local authority taking legal action against the landlord.