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146
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation.
During the year two dwellings were found to be in such
a state as to be unfit for human habitation, and, as a result of
representations made by the Medical Officer of Health, the
Council made closing orders under Section 17 of the Housing,
Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1909, in respect of these premises.
One of the dwellings known as Cromwell Cottage, East End
Road, East Finchley, has been demolished, and the other
premises known as The Cress Beds, Regents Park Road, are
no longer used for human habitation.
A small one-storey detached building at East Finchley,
called Luckville and Oxford Cottages, which was represented
as being unfit for human habitation towards the end of last
year, has since been put into habitable condition, a considerable
amount of work having been carried out and the building
adapted for the occupation of one family only.
Operation of Sections 14 and 15 of the Housing,
Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909.
Under Sections 14 and 15 of the Housing, Town
Planning, Etc., Act, 1909, any contract made after the
passing of that Act, for lotting for habitation, a house or part
of a house at a rent not exceeding £16 per annum, in a district
of less than 50,000 population, there shall be implied a
condition that the house shall be kept and maintained by the
landlord in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation.
The local authority has power to enforce this condition by the
service of notices in regard to sanitary defects, to execute
remedial work in default and to recover any expenses thus
incurred.
The estimated number of houses within the district of
Finchley let at a rent not exceeding £16 per annum is 193,
and, according to the house inspection records, the provisions
of Sections 14 and 15 apply with respect to 35 of these houses,
the tenancy of which commenced subsequent to the passing