Where a report with respect to an area within their district consisting primarily of housing accommodation is submitted to the local housing authority by a person appearing to the authority to be suitably qualified (who may be an officer of the authority), and the authority, upon consideration of the report and of any other information in their possession, are satisfied, having regard to—
that the requirement mentioned in subsection (2) is fulfilled with respect to the area, they may cause the area to be defined on a map and by resolution declare it to be a housing action area.
In considering whether to take action under this section the local housing authority shall have regard to such guidance as may from time to time be given by the Secretary of State, either generally or with respect to a particular authority or description of authority or in any particular case, with regard to the identification of areas suitable to be declared housing action areas.
An area which is declared to be a housing action area shall be such an area for the period of five years . . . , subject to—
A resolution declaring an area to be a housing action area is a local land charge.