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54
are somewhat wider than those enforceable under the
Public Health Act and are such as are necessary to
render a dwelling-house "in all respects reasonably
fit for human habitation." If after the expiration
of the time given in the notice for the execution of
the repairs, the works have not been carried out and
due measures are not being taken to have them carried
out, the local authority may themselves carry out the
repairs, charging the owner with the expenses, which,
until paid, constitute a charge on the property. An
owner has a certain amount of redress in that it is
possible for him to declare his intention to close the
house rather than carry out the necessary repairs, if
these repairs constitute " reconstruction " of the
premises. During 1922 the Borough Council themselves
carried out repairs in default of the owner to
20 premises at a cost of approximately £531. During
1921 the amount expended under this Act by the
Borough Council was £1,573 13s. 10d. Although the
work in connection with these 1921 figures was commenced
during that year, a considerable amount was
not finished until during 1922, and, in addition, a
large amount of work had to be completed during 1922
in connection with the recovery of the costs from the
owners of the property dealt with during 1921.
We have now had two years' experience of the
work of Section 28 of the Housing Act, 1919, involving
a total outlay by the Council of £2,105 15. in property
repairs. It may be well, therefore, to give in some
detail our experiences and the difficulties which we
have met with in working this Section. For purposes
of convenience we may look at these matters as they
affect:—
Firstly, the carrying out of the work, and, secondly,
the recovery of the expenses.
During 1922 we had the experience of two Ministry
of Health Inquiries and ten summonses in the Policecourt
for the recovery of expenses, and I have, so
far as possible, embodied the various questions which
have arisen during these Inquiries in the following
remarks:—