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23
SECTION C.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector reports as follows: —
Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
This Act came into operation on 30th August, 1954.
Part I contains provisions for clearance and re-development,
reconditioning of unfit houses, and other amendments of Housing Acts.
Part II provides for repairs increase of controlled dwelling-houses
and other amendments of the Rent Acts, etc.
Part III contains miscellaneous and general provisions.
Part 1.—In accordance with Section 1 of the Act, the Council was
required to submit to the Minister of Housing and Local Government
proposals for dealing, under Parts 11 and III of the Housing Act, 1936,
with houses in the Borough which appeared to the Council to be unfit for
human habitation, and with any other houses which are, or ought to be,
included in clearance areas.
A survey of the Borough was carried out in order that the Council
could formulate its proposals to comply with the Act. 291 houses were
found to be unfit for human habitation within the meaning of Section 9
of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, and suitable for action under
Sections 11 or 25 of the Housing Act, 1936.
The Council proposed to the Minister that these houses should be
demolished within the next five years, and this proposal was approved.
Of these, three small areas suitable for clearance procedure have been
inspected in detail and will form the subject of a report and representation
to the Council in the near future.
32 of the houses are already included in the Ilford Lane Clearance
Area.
Part //.—This part of the Act provides for certain increases, termed
repairs increases, in rents of dwelling-houses which are let under controlled
tenancies or are occupied by statutory tenants, and the landlord
is responsible, wholly or in part, for the repair of the dwelling-house,
where—
(i) the dwelling-house is in good repair; and
(ii) that it is reasonably suitable for occupation having regard to
the stability, freedom from dampness, natural lighting, ventilation,
water supply, drainage and sanitary conveniences, and
the facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of food and
for the disposal of waste water.
If the conditions justifying an increase of rent are fulfilled and the
landlord has served a notice in the statutory form on the tenant requiring
the payment of the permitted increase of rent and furnishing details as to
the value of the repairs carried out on the dwelling-house during the
specified period, the tenant may, if he disputes the right to the increase on
the grounds that the house has not been made to satisfy conditions (i) and
(ii) aforementioned, apply to the Local Authority for a Certificate of Disrepair
which shall stipulate that either or both of the conditions justifying
an increase in rent have not been fulfilled. When these items have been
made good to the satisfaction of the Local Authority, the Certificate of
Disrepair is revoked on the application of the landlord.
During 1954, 53 applications for Certificates of Disrepair were made.
47 were granted, of which 8 were subsequently revoked. In 6 instances
the applications were refused.
Air Pollution.
It is with great satisfaction that the serious jjrit nuisance which was
reported on last year has now been abated and little objection can now be
taken on the operation of the particular plant concerned. This can be