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248
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now been replaced by Section 30 of the Housing (Financial Provisions)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 205 and 19 inspections for discretionary and standard
grant applications respectively, and advice was given on 81
occasions in respect of such grants. On completion of standard
grant works, a further 18 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 Sections 36 and 90 of the 1957 Act. However,