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36
SECTION D.
HOUSING.
Clearance Areas and Individual Unfit Dwellings.
Under Section 1 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act 1954,
local authorities were asked to carry out surveys of unfit dwellings in
their areas, to submit returns showing the estimated number of such
houses, and to make proposals for programmes of clearance extending
over the five years beginning in January 1956 and ending in
December 1960.
It is estimated that by the end of 1960, there may still be a little
work in hand on the current programme but this will be completed
as soon as possible and further proposals made as found necessary.
Rent Act, 1957.
This Act came into force on the 6th July, 1957.
The role of the Health Department in the administration of the
Act is confined almost entirely to the consideration of applications
made by tenants of controlled houses for Certificates of Disrepair.
In broad terms, the possession of this Certificate enables a
tenant to resist the rent increase permitted by the Act and the
granting of a Certificate is justified only where the dwelling is in disrepair
by reason of defects which ought reasonably to be remedied
" having due regard to the age, character and locality of the
dwelling."
The work involved in the operation of this Act eased considerably
during 1959, only eight applications being received.
In four cases, undertakings were received from the landlord to
remedy the defects but in the remaining four cases, Certificates of
Disrepair were issued to the tenants.
Housing Statistics for the year 1959.
Total number of valuation assessments, houses and flats,
at 31st December, 1959 .... .... .... .... .... 23,797
(1) (a) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for
defects (under the public Health or Housing Acts) 132
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose .... 823
(2) Number of dwelling houses (included under sub-head
(1) above) which were inspected and recorded under
the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 —
(3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so
dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for
human habitation .... .... .... .... .... 10
(4) Number of dwelling houses (exclusive of those
referred to under the preceding sub-head) found not
to be in all respects reasonably fit for human
habitation 120