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Environmental Health 77
REPAIR, DEMOLITION, CLOSURE AND CLEARANCE
(a) Repair (Housing and Public Health Acts)
The remedying of housing defects, found either as a result of complaint or by discovery during
inspection, has been achieved mainly through the use of the Public Health Act, 1936, or, if urgent
repairs were necessary, through the Public Health Act, 1961. Inadequate powers exist to deal effectively
with the proper repair of tenanted dwellings. Until the definition of fitness is altered, and the cost
definition varied, there will continue to be a wastage of the housing stock.
The following table shows formal and informal action taken to secure the repair of dwellings.
Number of houses rendered fit after service of notices:—
Section 9, 10
and 16 of
Housing Act, 1957
Public Health
and similar
Local Acts
Totals
Informal
Formal
Informal
Formal
Informal
Formal
(a) By owner
—
1
152
18
152
19
(b) By Local authority
—
—
—
—
—
—
TOTALS
—
1
152
18
152
19
(b) Demolition and Closure of Unfit Houses
Twenty-eight houses were reported to the Council as unfit for human habitation and not capable
of repair at reasonable expense, in respect of which, 7 Closing Orders and 21 Demolition Orders
were made. Twelve houses have been demolished.
Unfit Houses (Not capable of repair at reasonable expense) — Housing Act, 1957
Number of: 1. Undertakings accepted (Section 16) —
2. Closing Orders made (Section 17) 7
3. Demolition Orders made (Section 17) 21
4. Closing Orders made (rooms) (Section 18) —
5. Closing Orders determined (Section 27) —
6. Closing Orders revoked and Demolition Orders
substituted (Section 28) 1
7. Houses demolished following Demolition Orders 13
8. Number of people displaced (a) individuals 28
(b) families 13
(c) Clearance Areas
By the end of the year the two year programme was practically complete, and other properties
which were found to be unfit have been dealt with.