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45
In continuation of our efforts to limit the number of tenants in
over-occupied premises which do not comply with the required
standards, four Notices of Intention were served giving notice of the
Council's intention to restrict the number of occupants. Subsequently
seven Direction Orders were served fixing the number of
occupants of the premises, and one variation was made to a Direction
Order where the owner had put in extra facilities.
In three instances where squalor existed, Management Orders
were made: these Order require the person managing the premises
to ensure the cleanliness, repair and maintenance of all the
common parts of the property.
Multiple occupation is a serious problem in the Borough which,
thanks to the efforts of the public health inspectors and technical
assistants, has been contained. This type of work is extremely
arduous on the staff employed, necessitating frequent visits at
night and weekends in view of the fact that the majority of
occupants are seldom at home in the daytime. It has, however,
become increasingly apparent that the gross overcrowding of a
few years back has almost ceased to exist, and the majority of
properties, although occupied to the full, are no longer statutorily
overcrowded.
Housing Act, 1969
The full force of this Act was felt in 1970, no fewer than 1,118
applications for Qualification Certificates being received from property
owners. During the year. 231 applications were refused
outright, 328 Qualification Certificates were issued and 809 applications
were held in abeyance pending works being done by
landlords to rectify items of disrepair. In addition, 394 anplications
were received for Provisional Qualification Certificates from landlords
wishing to improve their property: 270 Certificates of Provisional
Approval were issued, 24 Qualification Certificates were
issued after landlords had complied with the qualifying conditions
and 107 applications were held in abeyance for landlords to
rectify items of disrepair.
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960
There are six licensed caravan sites containing a total of 28
dwellings in the Borough.
Rent Act, 1957
The Act provides, amongst other things, for the issue by the
Council of certificates of disrepair to tenants of controlled dwelling
houses which are considered to be in disrepair by reason of defects
which ought reasonably to be remedied, having regard to the age,
character and locality of the dwelling. There is also provision for
the issue, by landlords, of undertakings to remedy such defects.