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The Housing Act. 1969 - Qualification Certificates
Part III of this Act introduced a process for converting controlled tenancies into regulated
tenancies upon the granting of a "qualification certificate" by a Local Authority that certain
conditions in respect of a property have been met. This enables a landlord to apply to the Rent
Officer for the assessment of a fair rent in respect of the dwelling under the Rent Acts.
Local Authorities grant such a certificate on being satisfied that the premises are:-
(a) Fit for human habitation having regard to the requirements of Section 4 of the Housing
Act, 1957.
(b) In a good state of repair having regard to its age, character and locality.
(c) In possession of all the standard amenities, i.e. bath, wash-hand basin, sink, hot and
cold water to these fitments, and a readily accessible W.C. compartment.
Seven such applications were received during the course of the year under review. Each was
investigated by this department and as a result four applications were granted, two refused, and
one was receiving further consideration.
The following report has been received from the Housing Manager:-
"During the year 233 families were rehoused leaving 495 families on the housing register
at the end of December 1970.
Good progress was made on the second phase of the Middlesex Street redevelopment and the
estate when completed will provide a shopping and residential precinct of 181 flats and 38 shops.
A further Old People's Unit comprising 60 units of accommodation and 30 family residential
units are under construction on the site of Otto House, Sydenham Hill.
Work continues on the redevelopment of the Barbican residential area where 1,700 flats are
under construction."
EXAMINATION OF WATER SUPPLIES AND SWIMMING BATH WATER
The Corporation of London exercise their function with regard to water supply under the
Public Health Acts, 1936 and 1961, and the Water Acts of 1945, 1948 and 1955. There is also a
provision in the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, which requires all employers
of shop and office workers to ensure that a supply of clean drinking water is available.
In the City there are two sources of water supply—
(1) From the statutory water authority—in the case of the City, the Metropolitan Water Board,
and
(2) From deep wells, of which there are I 14 in use, owned by various business houses in
in the City.
The supply from the Metropolitan Water Board is completely safe and satisfactory when
delivered to premises and all examination up to that point is carried out by the Board's own staff.
Examination on the premises is carried out by the City Public Health Inspectors, who also ensure
that the storage tanks and general supply facilities within the building are satisfactory.
The water from the deep wells is both satisfactory in quantity and quality and it is derived
from the hard grey chalk substrata about 450 ft. below the City and it is not plumbo-solvent. Water
samples for bacteriological examinations are usually taken from the well riser, indicating source
quality, and from the drinking taps, indicating storage quality. A total of I I I such samples were
taken from premises where there are deep wells. Six samples were found to have a high plate
count, which necessitated a further investigation as to the source of contamination. In each case
subsequent samples proved to be satisfactory. No Bacterium coli (type I) were isolated.
In addition, drinking water was sampled in 26 various business houses in the City and one
such sample was found to be unsatisfactory. An investigation indicated that the cause of this
unsatisfactory sample was the filthy state of a vending machine from which the water was delivered.
This machine was subsequently taken out of commission.
Swimming Baths
The three swimming baths within the City were visited weekly and bacteriological, chlorine
and pH tests were made. A total of 105 bacteriological samples were taken, of which 5 were
unsatisfactory. The causes of these unsatisfactory samples were investigated and the subsequent
samples proved to be satisfactory. As a result of these investigations it was necessary to close
down one of the swimming pools temporarily to enable cleaning and re-chlorination to be carried
out.
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