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50
responsible for repairs, other than internal decorations, the highest rent
is twice the gross value; if he is responsible for internal decorations as
well, it is two and a third times the gross value; but where the tenant is
responsible for all repairs, the factor is one and a third.
Where the landlord is increasing the rent he gives three months
notice.
If the house needs repair, the tenant can prevent a rent increase.
The procedure is set out on page 54.
Repair of Houses
Improvement Grants Little use was made of the powers contained
in the Housing Act, 1949, to make grants to owners to modernise
their houses either by improvement or conversion. Rather more use was
made of the powers contained in the Housing Repairs and Rents Act,
1954. The circular issued to explain the provisions of these Acts said:
"An important contribution can be made by the improvement or
conversion of existing houses or other buildings. With the best possible
progress in the building of new houses, the great majority of families
in this country must for some considerable time occupy houses which
were built many years ago and which, though they may be soundly constructed
and in good general repair, lack the amenities and convenience
which have come to be regarded as an essential to a decent and healthy life."
Any house which needs modernising is eligible for a grant if, when the
work is done, it will provide a satisfactory dwelling for at least fifteen
years. Up to the end of 1957, 102 applications had been received, of
which 50 had been approved. 25 of these applications were received in
1957; during the year 12 grants were made, all to owner-occupiers.
Inspection of Houses
Although the Housing Act requires local authorities to carry out
systematic inspections of houses, this routine inspection has not been
started since the end of the war because there is sufficient work to be
done arising from the complaints received from tenants about the state
of the houses they occupy, and the present numbers of recommendations
by the Public Health Committee for the rehousing of occupants of houses
on which Demolition Orders or Closing Orders are being made are
sufficient embarrassment to the Housing Committee. If the house
complained of is one of a number where it is thought the conditions might
be much the same, then, although no complaints had been received from
the occupiers of the other houses, all the houses in the block would be
inspected. That is about the limit of attention to houses to which the
Inspectors had not been called in by the tenants.
Slum Clearance Programme
The Council's proposals submitted to the Ministry in August, 1955,
for dealing with unfit houses in the district referred to 577 properties.