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Part II of the Act permits landlords who are responsible for
repairs to increase rents by specified amounts, provided that
certain conditions justifying increases are fulfilled, and
subject to the production of evidence that repairs to values
specified have been carried out on the premises during
certain periods. One of the conditions is that the dwelling
must be in good repair and the other that it must be reasonably
suitable for occupation, regarding which a standard of
fitness is set out in the Act, Provision is made for tenants
who have been served with notices of increase of rent to
apply to the Local Authority for certificates that either or
both of the aforementioned conditions are not fulfilled.
Regulations made under the Act prescribe the form of certificate
of disrepair, which form must also be used for applications
made under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts,
1920-1939, where no rent increases have been made under the
new Act. Provision is also made in the Act for the revocation
of Disrepair Certificates on application by the landlord.
The landlord is allowed, if he so wishes, to elect not to be
responsible for internal decorative repairs with a consequent
reduction in the permitted repairs increase.
Applications made under the now Act for Certificates of
Disrepair numbered 255 at the end of the year, 243 being
granted, and applications received during the year for certificates
under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions)
Acts amounted to 128, of which 113 wore granted. Twenty-two
applications for revocation certificates were granted during
the year and 21 refused.
Drainage.
1,873 drains were tested with smoke and 202 were found
to be defective. 6,035 visits of inspection were made to
drainage works during the year, and 556 drains were cleansed
or repaired and 426 constructed or reconstructed. Observations
were submitted to the Borough Engineer and Surveyor on
124 plans of new drainage works.
Dustbins.
An appeal, lodged by an owner against the service of a
notice under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, as amended
by the London County Council (General Powers) Acts, 1939 and
1951, for the provision of a dustbin, was subsequently withdrawn
as the bin was supplied meantime by the tenant. Following
Court decisions concerning the liability of owners
or occupiers to provide dustbins, at the instance of the
Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee, legislation
was promoted in the London County Council (General Powers)
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