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HOUSING REPAIRS AMD RENTS ACT, 1954
After a somewhat long and stormy passage the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954,
reached the Statute Book and came into operation on 30th August. The opportunity of
assisting in "Operation Rescue" was welcomed by the Department, the personnel of which
are only too anxious to do everything in their power to improve the conditions under
which many people in the Borough are forced to live. It is to be regretted that the Act
does not implement fully the recommendations of the Central Housing Advisory Committee
on standards of fitness, but it does attempt to define a national standard.
The Act is in two main parts. Part I deals with slum clearance, reconditioning
of unfit houses and certain amendments of the Housing Acts, and Part II deals with
increases in the rents of controlled houses as a result of repairs and other amendments
to the Rent Restriction Acts. The duty of carrying out the provisions of both parts of
the Act, is imposed on Local Authorities.
The most important duty under Part I is for the authority to submit proposals to
the Minister of Housing and Local Government for dealing with houses which are considered
to be unfit for human habitation. The proposals are to be submitted within one year of
the Act becoming operative, i.e., 30th August, 1955. The proposals will show how the
Council intends to deal with its slums under Parts 2 and 3 of the Housing Act, 1936 and
Part I of the new Act. The proposals may comprise schemes for dealing with slums by
demolition orders, closing orders, clearance orders, purchase, deferred demolition, repair
and temporary use.
The policy of deferring demolition of slums and Individual unfit houses is dealt
with in the Act by the provisions that where an area has been declared to be a clearance
area, or the demolition order has been made, either before or after the passing of the
Act, the Council may postpone, for such period as it may determine, the demolition of the
houses. The Council is proposing to exercuse this power to postpone demolition in suitable
cases where it has purchased a house or houses under the provisions of the Housing Acts,
as where, in its opinion, the property can be rendered capable of providing accommodation
of a standard adequate for the time being.
The inspection of houses in connection with the slum survey placed an additional
duty on the Sanitary Inspectors. The situation was rendered more difficult by the fact that
the newly appointed staff had had little time to settle down and clear up the arrears of
work which had accumulated during the shortage of inspectorial staff from January to August.
By the end of the year, however, the survey was progressing and total of 1,390 visits had
been made.
Part II of the Act deals, in the main, with the power of landlords to increase the
rents of controlled houses on which they have carried out repairs. All houses belonging to
a local authority, a development corporation, and certain housing associations and housing
trusts are taken out of the control of the Rents Aets and except for this provision, Part II
of the Act does not affect the Council as landlords. Where a landlord seeks to increase the
rent of a controlled house, it is a condition that the house must be in good repair and
reasonably suitable for occupation, having regard to the standard of fitness laid down in
Part I. Provision is made to enable a tenant on whom notice of increase has been served to
apply to the Local Authority for a certificate that this condition has not been fulfilled.
When such a certificate is in force, no increase of rent can be enforced.
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