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6. have a fixed bath (or shower) preferably in a
separate room;
7. be provided with a sink or sinks and with
suitable arrangements for the disposal of
waste watery
8. have a proper drainage system;
9. be provided in each room with adequate points
for gas or electric lighting (where reasonably
available);
10. be provided with adequate facilities for
heating;
11. have satisfactory facilities for storing,
preparing and cooking food;
12. have proper provision for the storage of
fuel (where required).
Applications for improvement (discretionary) grants received and
dealt with during 1959 are summarised as follows § -
Applications received 22
Applications granted 20
Applications withdrawn after
approval 1
Applications refused 2
Total amount of grants approved £6,918. Os. Od.
The second method is to apply for standard grants, which were
introduced by the House Purchase & Housing Act, 1959, which came into
operation on 14th June, 1959. The Act sets up a new system of standard
grants to supplement the present system of improvement grants paid at the
discretion of the local authority. The distinctive features of the new
system are that these grants are payable only in respect of the provision
of specified standard amenities and on the expenditure actually incurred
for this purposes and that provided certain conditions are satisfied the
owner of the property can claim the grant as of right. The new system
has been designed to produce as simple a procedure as possible and enable
owners generally to form a reasonably accurate idea of the assistance they
can hope to receive before any expense is incurred. It is designed to deal
in the main with relatively straightforward cases in which the improvements
involve little or no structural alteration, leaving the present system of
discretionary grants to deal with the more elaborate proposals.
There are five standard amenities (listed in Section 4 (l) as
shown below) eligible for standard grant, which is one half of the cost
shown to have been incurred in executing the works involved, subject to a
maximum payment of £155°
The maximum payment is reduced by the amount shown in parentheses
in cases where the particular provision is omitted, as having been
already provided:-
(a) A fixed bath or shower in a bathroom (£25)
(b) A wash-hand basin (£5)
(c) A hot water supply (£75)
(d) A water closet in or contiguous to the dwelling (£40)
(e) Satisfactory facilities for storing food (£10)
These ameaities must be for the exclusive use of the occupants
of the particular dwelling,, The dwelling must after improvement be equipped
with all five standard amenities; conversely, grant is not payable towards
the cost of providing a second water-closet or other amenity if there is
already one in the house. If a hot water supply is provided it must be