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A Qualification Certificate certifies that a dwelling satisfies these conditions. Provisional
qualification certificates are given in those cases which do not possess the standard amenities
if the application is made in conjunction with an application for an improvement grant. During
the year the number of applications received, exceeded all expectations. In fact it was thought
that about 600 would be received instead of the 1,255 that were actually submitted. All these
required full housing inspections. The task of fulfilling all landlords' requests for these certificates
has been a considerable burden on the staff. However, it will be seen that 96% of the total applications
were dealt with. Although qualification certificates have been granted in only one-third of
the total houses inspected, the one-third represent 361 houses which have been repaired up to
a good standard. This standard of good repair could not have been enforced by the usual Public
Health or Housing Act repair notices, and so the new Act is succeeding to the extent that dwellings
have received repairs and maintenance which perhaps they would not otherwise have received.
With the increased number of applications for improvement grants in conjunction with qualification
certificates, it does appear that the incentive of an increased rent is persuading landlords to invest
in the repair and improvement of their property.
Applications for Qualification Certificates received during 1970:
Number of applications received 1,255
Number of combined applications received (Improvement Grant
and Qualification Certificate) 183
Number of houses inspected 1,165
Number of Qualification Certificates granted 361
Number of Provisional Certificates provided 127
Number of Certificates recommended for refusal 43
Number of Combined Qualification Certificate and Improvement
Grants visited 166
REPAIR (HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS)
Action to secure the repair of dwelling houses, as distinct from the department's efforts in
the field of improvements, has continued throughout the year, the object in view being the
preservation of the nation's stock of houses in accordance with the recommendations of the
Government's white paper on this subject. Legislation to deal with repairs which are classed as
nuisances still dates back to the Public Health Act, 1936, and the repair of unfit houses is dealt
REPAIR (HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS)
Action to secure the repair of dwelling houses, as distinct from the department's efforts in
the field of improvements, has continued throughout the year, the object in view being the
preservation of the nation's stock of houses in accordance with the recommendations of the
Government's white paper on this subject. Legislation to deal with repairs which are classed as
nuisances still dates back to the Public Health Act, 1936, and the repair of unfit houses is dealt
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