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20
Percentage
Accumulations of rubbish 5
Lack of dustbins 4
Smoke or fumes 4
Annoyance from other persons 2
Miscellaneous 9
Of the complaints concerning insects just over half
were of cockroaches; some of the complaints of smoke or fumes
concerned defective fireplaces or flues and should perhaps be
included in the item of repair; and the miscellaneous complaints
included a number which were not matters for the Public Health
Department.
Apart from inspections on complaint, routine inspections
are carried out in certain special premises, particularly food
premises, of all kinds. A number of inspections of houses
follow on the notification of a case of infectious disease and
a certain number of inspections of houses are carried out with
a view to proceedings under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1957
which replaces Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936.
Action under Section 9 has not been popular partly
because the nuisance procedure under the Public Health Act is
so much simpler. There it is merely necessary to set out the
defects and to require the owner to remedy them, but under
Section 9 it is necessary in the first place for the Council to
be satisfied that the work can be done at reasonable cost. This
means not merely setting out the defects but preparing a schedule
of the works to be done, estimating the cost of the works and
obtaining an estimate of the value that the property would have
when the works are completed .
Where the work to be done is small, the accuracy of
the estimates is not very important, but where the work is
extensive a correct estimate may be of major importance. Under
Section 9 also the notice must state that the works set out
will render the house fit for human habitation and whilst it
may not be legally necessary to include every defect, it would
be misleading to the owner to omit defects and require their
repair at a later date.
Where a notice has been served under Section 9 and
the work is not carried out the Council may (and probably
should) do the work in default. This is normally done by a
private firm after tender and it usually means that the cost
of the work has to be collected from the rent of the property
over a long period.