London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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42
Rent Act 1957
The Rent Act 1957 came into force on 6 July, 1957, and the
following table shows the applications for certificates of disrepair dealt
with during the year 1960, and for the whole period.
Rent Act 1957
The Rent Act 1957 came into force on 6 July, 1957, and the following table shows the applications for certificates of disrepair dealt with during the year 1960, and for the whole period.
| Table 32 | 1960 | 1957-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Applications for certificates | 54 | 1057 |
| Decisions not to issue certificates | — | 20 |
| Decisions to issue certificates | ||
| (a) in respect of some but not all the defects | 12 | 631 |
| (b) in respect of all defects | 35 | 374 |
| Undertakings given by landlords to repair | 28 | 479 |
| Undertakings refused for special reasons | — | — |
| Certificates of disrepair issued | 23 | 499 |
| Applications by landlords for cancellation of certificates | 41 | 308 |
| Objections by tenants to cancellation | 11 | 105 |
| Decisions to cancel in spite of tenants' objection | 1 | 20 |
| Certificates cancelled | 28 | 213 |
House Purchase Loans
Approximately 774 properties, a record number, were surveyed and
reported on by the inspectors during the year for house purchase loans
made by the Council. In many of these cases schedules of work were
agreed and the repairs supervised and approved in order to make the
premises " in all respects fit for habitation " as required by s.43 of the
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958 under which loans are made.
Discretionary Grants and Standard Grants
Standard grants—given for the establishment of certain facilities
otherwise lacking—are equivalent to 50 percent of the cost, with maxima
of £25 for a bath or shower, £5 for a wash-hand basin, £75 for a hot
water supply, £40 for a w.c. and £10 for a food store. The largest
possible grant is therefore £155. These grants are made under the
House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, and during the year 57 applications
were investigated and reported on.
Discretionary grants are available for a wide range of improvements,
including conversions to self-contained dwellings, to enable
houses to be modernised and brought up to a "twelve point" standard.
They are paid solely at the discretion of the Council, have a maximum
of £400 for each dwelling, and are made under the Housing (Financial
Provisions) Act, 1958. During the year 97 applications were investigated
and reported on.
On housing work generally, Mr. Brittain, the group housing
inspector states: