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end of December, 1957, 134 applications were received for certificates
of disrepair, and the table below shows how these applications
were dealt with:
Period covered by return 6th July to 31st December, 1957
PART I - Applications for Certificates of Disrepair.
(1) Number of applications for certificates 134
(2) Number of decisions not, to issue certificates 5
(3) Number of decisions to issue certificates 129
(a) in respect of some but not all defects 122
(b) in respect of all defects 7
(4) Number of undertakings given by landlords under
paragraph 5 of the First Schedule 83
(5) Number of undertakings refused by Local Authority
under proviso to paragraph 5 of the First Schedule Nil
(6) Number of Certificates issued 42
PART II - Applications for Cancellation of Certificates
(7) Applications by landlords to Local Authority for
cancellation of certificates 7
(8) Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates 1
(9) Decisions by Local Authority to cancel in spite of
tenant's objection Nil
(10) Certificates cancelled by Local Authority 6
The machinery of the Act is mainly worked by the owner and
tenant with the local authority acting as referee. The tenant, if
he fails to reach agreement with the owner, applies to the Corporation
for a certificate of disrepair. In granting a certificate,
regard must be had to the age, character and locality of the
premises, and only items of disrepair can be included. In addition
only those items specified on the tenants application for a certificate
of disrepair can be considered. It can readily be seen
that many tenants find it almost impossible to draw up an application
form in an explicit manner. Another difficulty is caused
by the numerous prescribed forms which both the landlord and
tenant must use at each stage of the proceedings.
This complex legislation made a considerable amount of work
for the inspectors and clerical staff and called for a high
degree of liaison between the Town Clerk's department and my own
staff. So far very few complaints have been received either from
the owners or tenants about the items specified or omitted on a
certificate of disrepair and no owner or tenant has availed himself
of his right of appeal to County Court.
The defects specified on a certificate of disrepair are not
necessarily enforceable under the Public Health or Housing Acts.
Notices are, however, served on the owner for such items as can
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