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206
HOUSING
Authorisation of the Public Health and Housing Committee
to exercise duties of the Council and the Officers of
the Public Health Department to enter Premises ;
Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910;
Representations under Section 17; Exemption of
Lodging-houses for the Working Classes from Inhabited
House Duty ; Proposed Regulations as to underground
rooms habitually used as sleeping places ; moveable
Dwellings Bill (H.L.).
Authorisation of the Public Health and Housing Committee to
Exercise Duties of the Council and the Officers of the
Public Health Department to enter Premises.
The Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, provides that in any
Contract, made after the passing of the Act, for letting for habitation at
a rent not exceeding £40 in London (except under repairing lease of not
less than three years) there shall be implied a condition that the house is
at the commencement of the holding, and shall be maintained during the
holding, in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation.
Provision is made for inspection by any person authorised by the
Council in writing to enter any premises to which this section of the Act
applies, for the purpose of viewing the condition thereof; and if the
implied undertaking is not complied with in the case of any house, the
Borough Council may, if a closing order is not made, give notice requiring
the landlord to execute such works as may be specified, to render the
house in all respects fit for habitation. If the work is not done within
time specified, the Council may do the work and recover the expenses
from the landlord summarily or by annual instalments.
Provision is also made by the Act for the making of a closing order
by the Council in respect of any dwelling house in a state so dangerous
or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, and a demolition
order may be made in respect of any house where a closing order has
remained operative for three months. The Act enables the Council itself