View report page

23
Certificate of Disrepair.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, came into operation on
the 30th August, 1954. Under Part II of the Act which deals with repairs
increases in respect of controlled dwelling-houses and makes other
amendments to the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts,
1920-1939, landlords who are responsible, wholly or in part, for the
repair of dwelling-houses, are permitted to increase rents recoverable
from tenants by specified amounts subject to the production of evidence
that repairs to values specified have been carried out on the premises
during certain periods. The Act provides that the repairs increase
applies only if and so long as the conditions justifying an increase of
rent are fulfilled, viz.:—
(i) that the dwelling-house is in good repair; and
(ii) that it is reasonably suitable for occupation. (A standard of
fitness for human habitation is laid down in Part I of the Act).
On the service of a notice of increase, the tenant of the dwelling-house
may apply to the local authority for a certificate that either or both of
the conditions justifying an increase of rent are not fulfilled. In cases
where a certificate has been granted, the local authority must revoke
the certificate on the application of the landlord, when he has satisfactorily
carried out the works required to render the house reasonably suitable
for occupation and in good repair.
Provision is also made in the Act for a landlord to elect not to be
responsible for internal decorative repairs, in which case there is a reduction
in the permitted repairs increase.
By the end of the year two applications had been made under the new
Act for Ceitificates of Disrepair and in both instances certificates were
granted. Three applications were received during the year for certificates
under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, and a certificate
was granted in each case.
Houses let in Lodgings.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, repeals Section 6, Housing
Act, 1936, and Section 155, Public Health (London) Act, 1936, under
which byelaws were made in respect of houses let in lodgings. Section 11
of the new Act provides that local authorities may serve notices for
securing that houses let in lodgings are fit for occupation by the number
of families accommodated. The standards of fitness are specified in the
Act.
To secure compliance with a Notice, the person upon whom it is
served may either carry out the required work or take such steps as
are reasonably open to him to limit in any maimer specified the number
of families accommodated on the premises.
During the year, 381 primary inspections were made of this type of
house.