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House Purchase and Housing Acts, 1958 and 1959
Improvement Grants—Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1949, as
modified by Section 16 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954,
empowering local authorities to make grants to private owners for
improvements and conversions of sums up to £400 or half the cost,
whichever is the less, where the dwellings would provide satisfactory
accommodation for more than 15 years, has now been replaced by
Section 30 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958. These
grants are now known as discretionary grants.
Section 4 of the House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, introduced
a system of grants known as standard grants which, if certain
conditions are fulfilled, can be claimed as a right. This grant,
generally of a maximum of £155, provides for the installation of five
basic amenities, viz.:—
(1) a fixed bath or shower in a bathroom £25;
(2) a wash-hand basin £5;
(3) a water closet in or contiguous to the dwelling £40;
(4) a hot water supply £75; and
(5) facilities for storing food £10.
However, subject to certain circumstances a higher maximum of
£350 can be allowed.
Applications submitted to the Borough Treasurer are referred
to this Department to ascertain that the proposed works satisfy the
specified requirements. In this connection the Housing Inspectors
carried out 230 and 14 inspections for discretionary and standard
grant applications respectively, and advice was given on 135 occasions
in respect of such grants. On completion of standard grant works,
a further 8 inspections were made.
Housing Act, 1961
Houses in Multiple Occupation—In connection with these types
of properties, the general powers given to the Council under the
previous legislation, viz.:—
Natural Lighting
Ventilation
Water Supply
Drainage and Sanitary Conveniences
Facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food and
for the disposal of waste water
Prevention of overcrowding of sleeping rooms
were retained under Section 36 and 90 of the 1957 Act. However,
powers enabling the Council to enforce standards under Section 36
proved to be inadequate and were repealed by Part II of the Housing
Act, 1961. Regulations were made subsequently by the Minister under
Section 13 of the new Act providing a management code for Councils