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It was agreed that the value of the house on completion
of repairs would bo £150. There were throe appearances at
the County Court and the finding of the Judge was -
"Having heard and considered all the evidence I
accept as accurate the estimate that to execute
the works specified in the Corporation's Notice
will cost £139, and I find that to execute the
works necessary to render this house fit for
human habitation will cost such sum of £139.
The result is that by expending the sum
of £139 the Owners will have a house which will
bo worth the agreed figure of £150.
It will be observed that as the Ownor's
net profit from the house thereafter will bo the
agreed sum of £6 per annum, it will take 23 years
before they will recover their expenditure of £139.
It will also be observed that by expending
£139 the Owners will increase the value of the
house from its present agreed figure of £100 to
£150 an increase in value of £50.
On the whole facts I find that the house
cannot bo rendered fit for human habitation at a
reasonable expense."
Notwithstanding this decision the owner shortly afterwards
carried out the works required by the Notice. the date of the
Notice under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, was 14.9.48.,
and the works were completed in May,1950. Throughout this
period the tenant was in occupation of the unsatisfactory promises,
DUSTBINS. Since 1943 the Council have operated Section
75 (3) of the Public Health Act, 1936, and have supplied dustbins
to any promises needing them, and at the same time giving notice
to the owner. It was necossary to raise the annual charge for
the maintenance of dustbins supplied to the sum of 5/-. This
resulted in an appeal by many owner/occupiers for permission to
withdraw from the "Council's Dustbin Schome", as it was called.
It also created difficulties with owners of small cottages who
felt aggrieved that they should be called upon to pay the
additional charge. The controversial issue as to responsibility
for the maintenance of dustbins is one which I should be pleased
to see resolved.
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