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HOUSING ACTS
Slum Clearance
In their five-year programme the Council propose to deal with
58 properties. Up to the end of this year four areas have been
represented containing 16 houses. In addition six houses included
in the programme and owned by the Council have been demolished
; a further four houses are being voluntarily demolished by
the owner.
Certificates of Disrepair
The Housing Act, 1954, allowed the landlord a limited increase
in the rent of certain houses, if the house was in good repair and
was reasonably suitable for occupation. The tenant could apply
to the local authority for a certificate that the house was not in
good repair and/or not reasonably suitable for occupation.
During the period these provisions operated (they were repealed
and superseded by the Rent Act, 1957) 15 applications
were received from tenants, 13 certificates were issued ; two applications
were refused. Of the 13 certificates granted only six were
revoked on the application of the landlord.
Overcrowding
In one case, in which nine adult males were accommodated
in a flat over a shop with a permitted number of " 5 informal
action secured an immediate reduction to five occupants.
Improvement Grants
During the year, preliminary enquiries were made in respect
of 22 houses. Four preliminary enquiries were referred to the
Council and refused, in two cases because the alterations were not
eligible and in the other two because the Council hoped to redevelop
the area within the next 15 years.
Grants were made in respect of four houses, three of which
were occupied by the owner ; the tenant in the other house was
an employee of the owner.
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