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29.
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 unauthorised persons is a practice
which is not easily controlled and has been on the increase this
year. This entails additional work for the Public Health Inspectorate.
During the year the number of sites sprayed to prevent the breeding
of flies on putrescible matter was 52. 120 articles of clothing,
mattresses etc., were removed, again a considerable increase on the
previous year.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT 1954.
The above-named Act, which came into force in 1954 was repealed
by the Rent Act 1957 on 6th July 1957. The work in connection with
theHousing Repairs & Rents Act for that part of the year in which the
Act was in force, consisted of one application being made on behalf of
a tenant for a Certificate of Disrepair, a Notice of Increase of Rent
having been served by the owner, as compared with ten applications in
1956. This application was granted. There were nine applications for
Certificates of Revocation in rospect of Certificates of Disrepair
previously served and in four cases these were granted.
RENT ACT 1957.
This Act which came into force on 6th July 1957 altered the
procedure considerably as compared with the Housing Repairs and Rents
Act 1954. In the new Act the onus was placed on the tenant who is
required to set out his own schedule of items of disrepair (Form G),
The following is a summary of the work done from 6th July 1957 to
31st December 1957 -
Number of applications for certificates of Disrepair 57
Number of decisions not to issue certificates Nil
Number of decisions to issue certificates
(a) in respect of some but not all defects 42
(b) in respect of all defects 15
Number of undertakings given by landlords under
paragraph 5 of the First Schedule 28