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10
CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT
Housing.
The programme for dealing with unfit houses has
proceeded steadily and during tne year five houses were
represented to the Public Health Committee and
twenty-three demolition orders made.
A total of fif ty-five demolition orders had been made
and nine undertakings accepted under the programme
by the end of 1952 and the rehousing of the occunants
and demolition of the houses was proceeding satisfactorily.
In rehousing the occupants every endeavour was
made to provide them with accommodation, satisfactory
to themselvs both as regards situation, size and rent..
Houses demolished as a result of formal or
informal action under Section 11 of the
Housing Act, 1936 £3
Persons displaced as a result of these
demolitions 75
Houses closed in pursuance of an undertaking
given by the owners and still in force 2
Persons displaced 3
The repair of premises " in such a state as to be a
nuisance" or " not reasonably fit" has proceeded as far
as possible and in three instances works have been carried
out in the owners' default under the Housing Act, 1936.
but the operation of the repair sections of this Act in
respect of the older properties remained very difficult.
Due to the increased cost of repairs and the stabilising
of rents at pre-war levels, it can now almost be
regarded as a maxim that to deal fully with any pre-1914
cottage or smaller type house under the Housing Act,
1936, unless it is in an exceptionally good condition, the
operation of the " reasonable cost " clause will prevent
the service of repair notices.
Number of unfit or defective houses rendered
fit as a result of informal action under Public
Health or Housing Acts 178