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37
SECTION C
Sanitary circumstances of the Area
The tables on pages 74 to 76 summarise, as far as possible,
the sanitary work of the Department; from these it will be seen
that a total of 14,586 houses and premises have been inspected or
re-inspected during the year; 628 intimation notices and 135
statutory notices were served.
Registered complaints, numbering 1,270 show a decrease of
211 from those of the previous year, a total, however, still greatly
in excess of the pre-war average of 700.
Legislation.—The current year saw the introduction of a
major piece of legislation, which, in its field is the most important
enactment since The Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest
(Restrictions) Act, of 1920, and because of its importance a summary
of the Rent Act, 1957 is included in this Section.
RENT ACT, 1957
(As applicable to England and Wales)
This Act, which came into force 6th July of this year, introduced
new legislation for the issue and cancellation of certificates of disrepair,
repealed the relevant sections of the Housing Repairs and
Rents Act, 1954, appertaining thereto and makes certain amendments
to the Rents Acts 1920/1939. Any certificate previously
issued and in force immediately before the commencement of this
Act shall, to the extent that it specifies any defects as regards, the
state of repair of any dwelling, be dealt with as if it were a certificate
of disrepair under this Act.
Lettings Released from Control
(a) With certain exeptions, privately owned dwellings where the
rateable value exceeds £40 in London and £30 elsewhere.
(b) Owner-occupied dwellings where they are let after 6th July,
1957.
(c) All other privately owned dwellings when re-let to a new
tenant except where :—
(i) the tenancy passes either to the widow or other member
of the family entitled to succeed under the Rents Acts.
(This can only occur once).