View report page

Details of overcrowding under Section 90 of the Housing Act, 1957:-
Number of dwellings overcrowded at end of year
Number of families occupying these houses
Number of individuals living in these houses
Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year
Overcrowding relieved during the year -
11
27
135
8
(a) Number of cases
7
94
(b) Number of individuals involved
The 12 prosecutions for contraventions of the terms of Directions given under Section
19 of the Housing Act, 1961, were all successful. Pines, totalling £210, were imposed
and a total of £45 costs awarded to the Council. Pines ranged from £5 to £40 and costs
from £2 to £18.
There were also 4 proceedings for failure to comply with notices under Section 170 of
the Housing Act, 1957, requiring information as to ownership. Two cases were withdrawn
when the information was given and in one case costs of £3.15 were paid to the Council.
One case was dismissed and in another case fines totalling £12 were imposed and £10
costs awarded to the Council.
There were 11 prosecutions for failure to comply with notices served under Sections
15 and 16 of the Housing Act, 1961. 10 of which were successful, one case being
withdrawn when the work was done. Pines totalling £454 were imposed and £86 costs
awarded to the Council.
There was one appeal to County Court against service of a notice under Section 16 of
the Housing Act, 1961, which was dismissed.
A fine of £3 was imposed and £3 costs awarded to the Council in a case where a Public
Health Inspector was obstructed.
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
The staff carrying out Improvement Grant functions under the Housing Acts from 1954
onwards were transferred to the Inspectorate with effect from 1st June, 1970.
The decision to transfer these functions was influenced by the coming into
operation in August, 1969, of the Housing Act, 1969, which radically altered the
financial basis of grant calculation and introduced the Qualification Certificate
procedure by means of which owners of rent controlled dwellings could apply to the Rent
Officer for the registration of fair rents and the conversion of controlled tenancies to
regulated ones. Landlords following this procedure required a qualification certificate
stating that the dwelling was provided with all the amenities prescribed by the Act, was
fit for human habitation and in good repair having regard to, its age, character and
locality.
By December, 1969, about 900 applications for Qualification Certificates had been
received but because of staff difficulties little progress had been made in inspecting
the properties although an adequate administrative procedure had been built up.
By December, 1970, the number of applications for Qualification Certificates had
risen to 1,883. By steady work throughout the year, mainly with the assistance of the
District Public Health Inspectors, 278 Qualification Certificates were issued following
completion of necessary works of repair by the owners. A further 1,380 premises had
been inspected following which some applications were withdrawn and the remainder were
awaiting completion of work before Certificates could be issued.
52