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16
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR
for the year 1951.
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
June, 1952.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penqe.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to place before you my twenty-fourth Annual Report
on the work of the Sanitary Inspectors for the year ended 31st December, 1951.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for owners of property to maintain
their houses in a reasonable state of repair. The very high cost of work and the
fact that rentals (excluding rates) remain the same as in 1939, result in the neglect
of property. A consequence of this is that the tenants call upon the sanitary
inspectors for action to be taken to improve the conditions in which they live.
This is reflected in the number of complaints received, which totalled 959 during
1951, the great majority being concerned with housing defects.
A large amount of repair work has been done following action taken by
your Inspectors, as will be seen on reference to the list of work executed.
It is only after every endeavour has been made informally to have notices
complied with that statutory action is taken.
In some cases delay is still being experienced in getting repairs executed
owing to prolonged negotiations between owners and the War Damage Commission.
It was found necessary to institute legal proceedings against several
owners in order to abate nuisances caused by housing defects and the following
is a summary of those cases heard during the year :—
Case No. Result
1. Non-compliance with Nuisance Order made by Justices. Fined £3 0s. 0d.
Council did work in default.
2. Continued non-compliance with Nuisance Order.
Fined £3. 0. 0.
(a) Continued non-compliance with Nuisance Order. Fined
£3 0s. 0. and 10s. 6d. costs.
3. Nuisance Order-made-to 4o work in 56 days -and pay 9s. 6d, Court costs,
4. Continued non-compliance with Nuisance Order. Work completed
before hearing of case. Summons withdrawn on payment of 4s. 0d.
Court costs.
5. Continued non-compliance, with Nuisance Order. Fined £5 0s. 0d. and
£1 1s. 0. costs.