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Maximum Grant
2. Conversion of premises into two or more self-contained dwellings
normally with 30 years life
(Half of approved estimated expenditure on improvements and repairs)
£1,000 per dwelling
3. As (2) above but building has 3 or more floors
£1,200 per dwelling
4. Installation of standard amenities only in dwelling normally having
a further life of at least 15 years.
(a) Fixed bath or shower in bathroom £30
(b) Wash hand basin £10
(c) Sink £15
(d) Hot and cold water supply for (a) £45
(e) Hot and cold water supply for (b) £20
(f) Hot and cold water supply for (c) £30
(g) Internal water closet £50
Total maximum grant £200
5. As (4) but where necessary to construct a bathroom extension £450
Standard grants may not exceed 50% of the actual approved cost of the works.
The Housing Act 1969 came into force on 25th August and between that date and the end of this year
applications for grant were received in respect of 121 dwellings, as follows:-
Standard Grant 44
Improvement Grant 54
Conversion Grant 23
TOTAL 121
Grants approved under the 1969 Act in that period amounted to £15,218. Of necessity, approvals
must lag behind the applications since a considerable amount of investigation must be undertaken
in respect of the property and the specification of works and prices submitted by the applicant.
The applicant's title to the property must also be checked by the legal department.
Improvements and Rents
The Housing Act 1969 has linked the improvement of properties with the decontrol of controlled
tenancies and the re-assessment for rent purposes of "regulated" tenancies and this is an additional
incentive to owners to modernise their properties.
If, when the Act came into operation on 25th August 1969, a dwelling let at a controlled rent, was
provided with all the standard amenities and these amenities continue to be available, the owner
may apply to the Council for a Qualification Certificate to enable him to request the Rent Officer
to fix, and register a fair rent for the dwelling and this rent can be brought into operation, the
increase being phased over a period of five years.
Before issuing the Qualification Certificate the Council must be satisfied that, in addition to having
all the standard amenities, the dwelling is fit for human habitation and is in good repair having
regard to its age, character and locality.
264 applications of this type were received in 1969.
Where a controlled dwelling lacked some of the standard amenities in August 1969, the owner may
submit proposals for installing these amenities, with or without the aid of a grant from the Council
and apply for a Certificate of Provisional Approval. This will enable him to request the Rent
Officer to fix a fair rent for the improved dwelling. When the fair rent has been fixed and the
tenant advised, the owner may then request the tenant to consent to the improvements being carried
out: if this consent is given the owner is then entitled to a Qualification Certificate upon the
satisfactory completion of the work to enable him to request the Rent Officer to register the fair
rent.
14 applications were received in 1969.
32