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29.
When the furniture is loaded on the van it is taken to the Disinfecting
Station; the van is then sealed and charged with HCN. The whole of the
contents are disinfested for approximately four hours, the van is then
opened, tested, and when clear of HCN the van moves to the new flat and
the furniture is delivered. Soft goods, (that is, bedding, mattresses
etc.) which are collected at the same time as the furniture by the
Borough Council disinfecting van, are disinfected by the Council's
disinfecting apparatus and returned at the same time as the furniture.
The next morning the whole of the furniture is chemically tested to make
sure that the whole of the HCN has been removed from the furniture and
fittings.
Much work has been done during the year in connection with the
prevention of the breeding of cockroaches and beetles. Hot water ducts
in new Council flats provide a favourable breeding ground for cockroaches
and beetles but by arrangement with the Borough Architect's Department
insecticide powder is placed in the hot water ducts when they are being
constructed. This method of control has proved to be very successful.
The depositing of insanitary and other putrescible matter on vacant
sites and other places by unauthorized persons is a practice which is
not easily controlled. During the year many sites have been sprayed to
prevent the breeding of flies on putrescible matter, 113 articles being
removed and 48 sites sprayed.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT, 1954.
The work in connection with the above-named Act, which came into
force in 1954, has considerably lessened in the last year, and in
particular, applications made on behalf of tenants for Certificates of
Disrepair have been considerably reduced.
During the year 10 applications were made on behalf of tenants for
Certificates of Disrepair where Notices of Increase of Rent had been
served by the owners, as compared with 80 applications in 1955. Of the
10 applications made, 6 were granted. In this connection 38 applications
for Certificates of Revocation in respect of Certificates of Disrepair
previously served were received and in 36 cases these were granted.
It is a requirement that owners shall provide certain particulars
in the rent books and in all cases where the Public Health Inspectors
have visited dwelling houses the rent books have been inspected, and
where the provisions of the Act had not been complied with, letters were
sent to the owners pointing out the contravention of the Act.
In this connection 31 letters were sent to owners and in all cases
the particulars were inserted in the rent books.