View report page

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS
During October the Magistrates at Hendon Court heard cases
involving 25 summonses taken out under a Middlesex County Council
Act in respect of an unauthorised caravan site at Edgware which failed
to comply with the requirements of the Act. The case was proved and
fines which totalled £50 were imposed.
At the same Court during November the Magistrates heard an
application for an Abatement Order in respect of a nuisance arising from
the leaking state of the roofs of two blocks of flats in Honeypot Lane.
The Order was granted, fines totalling £11 were imposed and costs
amounting to 25 guineas were awarded.
HOUSING
Legislation
Housing Act, 1957: Section 3 of the consolidating Housing Act,
1957 renews the previous provisions making it the duty of local authorities
to inspect their districts from time to time to ascertain whether any houses
are unfit for human habitation.
The standard of fitness is set out in paragraph 4. A house is deemed
to be unfit for human habitation if it is so far defective in any one or
more of the following matters and is not reasonably suitable for occupation,
viz., (a) repair; (b) suitability; (c) freedom from damp; (d) natural
lighting; (e) ventilation; (f) water supply; (g) drainage and sanitary
conditions; (h) facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food, and
for the disposal of waste water.
It is an implied condition of a contract of tenancy on the letting of a
small house that the house was fit for human habitation at the commencement
of the tenancy and will be kept so fit by the landlord. In
wis district this applies to houses let before the 6th July, 1957, at a rent not
exceeding £26 or let after that date at a rent not exceeding £52.
Section 9 is the same as Section 9 of the 1936 Act. Where a local
authority are satisfied that a house is unfit for human habitation but that
it can be made fit at a reasonable expense, they may serve notice on the
Person having control of the house requiring him to execute works
Within a reasonable time. This section applies to a hut, tent, caravan or
other temporary or moveable shelter which is used for human habitation
and has been in the same enclosure for two years. In default of the owner
doing the work, the local authority might carry out the work and recover
the expense.