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Housing Act, 1936
Repair of houses (sections 9 and 10).
Under section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, a local authority if
satisfied upon consideration of an official representation, or a report from
any of their officers, or other information, that any house is in any
respect unfit for human habitation they shall, unless they are satisfied
that it is not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit,
serve upon the person having control of the house a notice requiring him
within a reasonable time to execute the works specified in the notice
and stating that in the opinion of the authority those works will render
the house fit for human habitation. In determining whether a house
can be rendered fit for human habitation at a reasonable expense,
regard is had to the estimated cost of the works necessary to render it
so fit and the value which it is estimated the house will have when the
works are completed.
In June, one of the district sanitary inspectors was seconded to
carry out duties in general under the Housing Acts, and his duties
include work under section 9. To the end of the year 43 notices had
been served in respect of properties in various parts of the borough,
and of these notices the necessary works required to secure compliance
with the notices had been completed in 7 cases by December 31.
Section 10 of the Act allows the local authority to do the work
required by the notice themselves if the notice has not been complied
with. The expenses incurred by the local authority in executing such
works are recoverable from the person having control of the house.