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56
While in the majority of instances the defects found to exist in unfit
houses are due to the lack of proper management and supervision by
owners, from time to time complaints are made by the owners regarding
the difficulties they experience in keeping their property in a reasonable
state of repair because of the dirty and destructive habits of a number
of their tenants. It is alleged that, through carelessness or wilful damage
by tenants, repairs and cleansing have to be carried out with unreasonable
frequency and that, as a consequence, it is impossible to maintain even
the minimum requirements of the Local Authority without incurring
financial loss.
Investigation has shown that these statements are often well-founded,
especially in the poorer class tenement lodging houses where no responsible
caretaker or landlord is resident. To lighten the difficulties of the
owner in these cases, effort is made, as far as. possible, to keep in view
such powers as a Local Authority has of holding the tenant responsible
for defects resulting from his neglect or default.
The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing
defects was 547, the number found not to be in all respects
reasonably fit for human habitation being 240. The number rendered
fit in consequence of informal action by the Sanitary Inspectors was
217, and the number in respect of which statutory notices were served
requiring defects to be remedied was 23. No case came to the knowledge
of the Department in the course of the year of an underground room being
illegally used for sleeping purposes.
No application under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest
(Restrictions) Acts was made by an occupier of a dwelling house, that
the house occupied by him was not in a reasonable state of repair.
Unhealthy Areas.—One representation was made under the Housing
Act during the year. No complaints that areas were unhealthy have
been received.
Byelaws relating to Houses and Houses Let in Lodgings.—
Existing byelaws relating to houses are, on the whole, found to be fairly
satisfactory in their working.
Housing Survey.—House-to-house inspection was carried out during
the year, as provided by statute, 170 houses being inspected and recorded
by the Inspectors.