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(c) OTHER.
Animals and birds 47
Ditches, ponds, drainage and
flooding 647
Refuse 158
Smells 100
Atmospheric pollution 264
Pest Control 1,584
Miscellaneous 168
2. HOUSING
(a) Unfitness:
An unfit dwelling may be dealt with by asking the owner to carry out
the works necessary to make it fit, by making a closing order, by making a
demolition order or by including it in a clearance area. The state of repair
of the dwelling, its internal and external arrangement, the possibility of
improvement, the effect on neighbouring property and the financial implications
are fully considered, together with the opinions of both the owner and occupier
before a decision is made as to the procedure to adopt.
Unfit dwellings found 16
Dwellings included in clearance
areas 12
Closing orders made 2
Demolition orders made 2
Closing orders rescinded (house
made fit) 1
Houses demolished 5
(b) Disrepairr
Under the provisions of the Public Health and Housing Acts, 526 visits
have been made in connection with disrepair in houses. Maintaining property in
good repair ought to be a priority with landlords to protect their investments.
Unfortunately, this is not the case with a few owners who will only carry out
repairs under the threat of legal action. As a result some properties drift
into serious disrepair warranting consideration as to their future life.
A cause for concern is the absence of satisfactory enforcement
procedure to ensure a standard of good repair in houses when qualification
certificates have been granted, particularly where a grant has also been given
by the Local Authority. When disrepair does not constitute a public health
nuisance the only remedy would seem to be for the tenant to apply to the Rent
Officer for a reduction in the rent, which action does not secure the repair
of the house. The power given in the Housing Act 1969 to deal with disrepair
is not available for the remedying of minor defects but is intended to deal with
defects which have led to a cumulative deterioration in the property, apparently
permitting one to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.
-20- /c)