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20
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT, 1954
This Act, which came into force on the 30th August, 1954, enables a landlord
whose property is in good condition to claim a repairs increase on the rent,
provided he serves the necessary notices declaring that he has satisfied the
expenditure test, etc. If the tenant is dissatisfied with the condition of his house
he can apply to the local authority for a certificate of disrepair. If this is granted
the increase in the rent can be withheld until such time as the landlord remedies
the items of disrepair enumerated in the certificate and obtains from the local
authority a certificate of revocation.
By the end of the year 36 applications for certificates of disrepair had been
received from tenants and in every case a certificate was issued. One application
was received for the revocation of a certificate of disrepair and this was granted,
the necessary repairs having been executed. In several other cases the repairs
were in hand at the end of the year.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
The supervision of premises and stalls where foods are prepared, stored
or exposed for sale has been regularly carried out, 1,285 visits being made in
this connection.
On a few occasions the attention of the persons concerned was called to
contraventions of the byelaws made under section 15, Food and Drugs Act,
1938, but in none of these cases was it considered necessary to take statutory
action.
Legal proceedings were taken against a butcher in respect of two offences
under section 13, Food and Drugs Act, 1938, regarding dirty conditions and
equipment in his premises. He was also prosecuted under section 9 of the Act
on three charges of having in his possession for sale food which was unfit for
human consumption. Fines amounting to £21.0.0. were imposed and he
was ordered to pay £3. 3. 0. costs. The Public Health Committee gave consideration
to the cancellation of the registration of his premises used in the
manufacture of preserved food and after hearing the explanations of the butcher
and a report that thorough repair and cleansing of the premises had been carried
out decided to adminster a severe warning and not to cancel the registration
of the premises. This action proved effective.
Your sanitary inspectors continued to give advice to occupiers of food
premises on matters relating to food and general hygiene.
Communications were sent to the occupiers of 15 food premises regarding
defects found, and in each case the work was carried out after informal action.
The attention of the department was drawn on a few occasions to the presence
of a foreign body in, or contamination of, food purchased in the district. The
vendors concerned were interviewed and the circumstances fully investigated.
In one case concerning a drawing pin in a loaf of bread legal proceedings were
taken under section 3, Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the Magistrates imposed
a fine of £20. 0. 0. and costs, previous convictions having been proved against
the firm concerned. In other cases a warning was given.
The amount of food surrendered and condemned as unfit for human
consumption after examination by your inspectors was 3 tons, 13 cwts., 1 qr.,
10 lbs.