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24
SECTION C.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
The Chief Public Health Inspector reports as follows: —
Housing Repairs in Relation to the Rent Act 1957 and a Comparison
with the work carried out under the repealed housing repairs and
Rents Act 1954.
The statistics appended hereto furnish some idea of the efficaciousness
of the 1957 Act and it can be assumed that much more work is being
carried out under this Statute than under the former Act, despite the longer
period between the landlords undertaking to carry out the works to
remedy defects specified by the tenant, and as this part of the Act became
operative on the 6th July, 1957, a period of six months was allowed
during which those repairs can be carried out.
In Ilford there has been very little conflict between landlord and
tenant both of whom have readily accepted the information tendered by the
officers administering this Act. At the time of writing there had been no
appeals against either a Certificate of Disrepair or a Certificate of Revocation.
It is only natural that there will be appeals to the County Court under
this Act as there appears to be conflict of opinions as to the exact meaning
of the item " disrepair." Does it include a fence, gate, boundary wall,
external glazed leanto or a coal bunker? Can the painting or enamelling
of a bath be required of a landlord on the tenant's application? Does the
term include missing door and window furniture to make a door or
window defective? Does it include electric lighting and switches or the
restitution of a partially choked hot water system which operates somewhat
imperfectly? These are frequently listed in the tenants' defects list
and oft-times included in the certificate of disrepair, but some consider
that this practice is incorrect.
Insofar as Ilford is concerned, I consider that the new Act is having
a salutary effect in securing an improvement in the sanitary circumstances
of the Borough, particularly in the external appearance of many dwellings
which in turn produce a high standard of internal maintenance.