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33
HOUSING.
Housing Act 1957. - Public Health Act 1936.
Under the provisions of Section 3 of the Housing Act 1957 it
is the duty of the local authority to ensure that their district is
inspected with a view to ascertaining whether any house is unfit for
habitation.
Section 4 of the Housing Act defines the standard of fitness;
"In determining for any of the purposes of this Act whether a house is
unfit for human habitation, regard shall be had to its condition in
respect of the following matters, that is to say - repair;stability;
freedom from damp; natural lighting; ventilation; water supply;
drainage and sanitary conveniences; facilities for storage, preparation
and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste water; and the house
shall be deemed to be unfit for human habitation if and only if it is
so far defective in one or more of the said matters that it is not
reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition."
During the year 205 dwelling houses were inspected and 114
were found to be in some respects unfit. These were dealt with as
set out below:-
Housing Act 1957 - Section 16. Unfit premises beyond repair
at reasonable expense.
It was found necessary to report 5 houses to the Council as
being unfit and beyond repair at reasonable expense. Demolition
orders were subsequently made by the Council.
Public Health Act 1936.
Section 92. Premises in such a state as to be -prejudicial
to health and a nuisance.
In 87 cases the defects were remedied following the service of
informal notices and in 22 cases it was found necessary to serve
Statutory notices. in respect of housing defects.