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45
Rent Act, 1957-Certificates of Disrepair
The Rent Act came into operation on the 6th July 1957 and it is
difficult, as yet to accurately assess the full results of its application in the borough. So far as the Department is concerned inspections have been made by the Public Health Inspectors in connection
with applications to the Council by tenants for a Certificate of Disrepair and for advice in completing the appropriate forms required by
the Act.
By the end of the year 34 premises had been inspected in connection
with official applications and some 37 for other purposes In
10 cases it was recommended to the Council that a Certificate of Disrepair
be issued for all the defects specified by the tenant on form
G ' in 23 cases for some of the items only, and in one case that no
certificate be issued.
The number of Certificates actually issued by the Council up to
the 31st December was 8 and undertakings to carry out the necessary
work were accepted in 6 instances.
Improvement Grants
Property owners in the borough have taken little advantage of the
financial assistance available under the Housing Acts whereby improvements
can be affected to sub-standard houses at the discretion of the
Council.
Work was completed during the year in the conversion of 3 premises
subject to grant previously agreed to by the Council. This resulted
in the provision of 8 three room flats and 3 one-room flats, the
latter for old people.
One formal application only was received and agreed to by the
Council during the year in respect of the horizontal conversion of two
adjoining houses in Myddelton Square to provide 5 three room flats.
The alterations were nearing completion at the end of the year.