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48
SECTION D.
HOUSING.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT, 1954.
Part II of the Act. 1954, allows a landlord to increase the rent
of a controlled property providing it is in good repair, and makes
further provision for all rents to be increased. This was new in
principle and was found rather complicated in application.
In last year's report a paragraph stated: "It is not certain
whether this part of the Act. referring to the application by tenants
for a certificate of disrepair, will be used to the extent originally
anticipated." The doubt, therefore, concerning the lack of use by
tenants applying for certificates of disrepair is confirmed. Only 10
applications were received in 1955. Six certificates were granted
and 4 refused. In addition, of the 8 applications outstanding at the
end of 1954. 5 certificates were granted and 3 refused. Eleven
applications for revocation of certificates of disrepair were received.
Ten were granted and 1 was still under investigation at the end of
the year. Three hundred and eleven inspections were made by the
Sanitary Inspectors, and 49 nuisances were found.
It is hoped that many more owners will afford themselves the
advantages of the statutory grant to enable their properties to be
improved within the standard envisaged by the Act.
HOUSING INSPECTIONS AND ABATEMENTS.
During the year, the Sanitary Inspectors made a total of 4.451
inspections relating to housing matters. One thousand one hundred
and thirty-four nuisances and defects were found and 1.571 abated
(this figure includes those found in 1954 aud remedied during 1955).
Detailed information will be found in Tables VII and VIII in
the Appendix.