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40
SECTION D.
HOUSING.
Clearance Areas and Individual Unfit Dwellings.
As indicated in my last report, the problem of unfit houses is by
no means an acute one in the Orpington district.
To complete our programme, we have to deal with approximately
thirty-five houses and it is anticipated that, in the majority of cases,
we shall apply the procedure under Section 17 of the Housing Act,
1957 (Demolition or Closing Order).
A close liaison is maintained with the Housing Department to
ensure that our formal action is related to the availability of alternative
accommodation for the displaced persons.
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".
Only two applications for Certificates were received during 1961,
and from a study of the number of applications received since the
passing of the Act (given below) I think it is reasonable to assume that
in the majority of cases, where the permitted increase in rent has
been applied, tenants and landlords have reached agreement on the
question of necessary repairs without recourse to the Local Authority.
Applications received
1957 (six months) 1958 1959 1960 1961
59 38 8 3 2
Housing Act, 1961.
This Act came into force at the end of the year. It extends and
amends the principal Act of 1957.
From the viewpoint of this department, the most important
amendments are those dealing with houses in multiple occupation and
the raising of the Rent Increase from 8 per cent, to 12| per cent, for
improvements.