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of 9 Belson Road; 49 Rectory Place; 10, 12-16 (cons.), 19-21 (cons.),
23 and 25 Marshall's Grove; 2 and 3 Carolina Place; 3 Chapel Hill; and
170-176 (even) Bostall Lane.
REVISED UNDERGROUND ROOM REGULATIONS
Following the issue of new model Underground Room Regulations the
Council made revised Regulations for the proper ventilation and lighting
of underground rooms, and submitted them to the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government for approval. These Regulations are now in force.
However, the Council's policy has never been to rely entirely or
mainly on the technicalities of the Regulations. The main criterion
has always been whether or not a basement which is being considered
for closure is reasonably fit for human habitation, with the Regulations
as a useful technical adjunct.
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
Owner/occupiers, owners of rented properties, and in some instances
leaseholders, who desire to modernise their properties may receive a
monetary grant from the local authority under the provisions of the House
Purchase and Housing Act, 1959.
There are two schemes under which application may be made for grant.
The 'Discretionary' grant enables the Council to contribute up to half
of the estimated cost of improvements which would enable a house to conform
to a 12-point standard. This form of grant, as its name implies, is
paid on the discretion of the local authority and is subject to a minimum
payment of £50 and a maximum of £400.
The 'Standard' grant, however, can be obtained by landlords of
houses built prior to 1945 as a right. This form of grant is paid
towards the cost of installing five basic amenities, namely - (1) a
fixed bath or shower in a bathroom; (2) a wash-hand basin; (3) a water
closet in or contiguous to the dwelling; (4) a hot water supply;
(5) facilities for storing food. The 'Standard' grant can provide half
the cost of the work involved up to a maximum of £155.
All applications for Improvement Grants are submitted to the
Borough Treasurer's Department, and then forwarded to the Health Department
for inspection of the premises to be made to determine that the
proposed works will satisfy the requirements of the standards specified
in the Act.
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