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the Council.
Steady progress was maintained during the year in dealing with unfit properties.
291 such properties had been dealt with by the end of the year under the 5-year
programme called for by the Minister of Housing and Local Government under the
Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954. A further survey of the Borough will be carried
out during 1961 and fresh proposals submitted to the Minister under Circular 2/60.
Most of the unfit properties are, however already known to the Department and it is
anticipated that some 120 remain to be dealt with. The majority are in areas
scheduled for redevelopment.
As in previous years, it was generally found that the most satisfactory way of
dealing with unfit houses in areas so scheduled was the issue of Certificates of
Unfitness under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958 after the properties had
passed into the Council ownership. The fact that the houses are unfit is, of course,
known to the District Valuer at the time of purchase as a result of the reports on
the surveys submitted to him.
The progress made in dealing with houses let in muIti-occupation was very
limited. The absence of proper statutory standards for the provision of amenities
and a proper enforceable code of management, coupled with the fact that action under
the Housing Act, 1957 might lead to the eviction of families which the Council could
not at present rehouse, makes progress in this field of housing work difficult.
Rent Act, 1957
The following figures show the number of applications for Certificates of Disrepair
and Revocation received and the action taken during the year.
Applications for Certificates of Disrepair
No. of applications for certificates 9
No. of decisions not to issue certificates –
No. of decisions to issue certificates 9
(a) in respect of some but not all defects 8
(b) in respect of all defects 1
No. of applications outstanding at end of year –
No. of undertakings given by landlords under paragraph 5 of
the First Schedule 4
No. of undertakings refused by Local Authority 1
No. of certificates issued 7
(One certificate was in response to an application received in
the previous year).
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