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37
The causes of incompatibility are many. In order for there to be
harmony between families occupying the same premises there must be give and
take on both sides, but unfortunately this is often lacking. The tenant, in
a gesture of goodwill and neighbourliness, may have taken in another family
not realising perhaps that such an action calls for a continuance of this
goodwill and some restriction of the freedom hitherto enjoyed.
Although these cases assume prominence we do not really know what
proportion of such households are in a state of stress and what proportion do
achieve a state of equilibrium.
Housing Repairs & Rents Act, 19 54
This important Act became law in 1954, it is in three parts.
Part I:- deals mainly with clearance - redevelopment - reconditioning of
unfit houses.
Part II:- deals with repairs, increases in the rents of controlled
dwelling houses.
Part III:- contains a few mi seel 1 aneous provisions.
As indicated in my last year's annual report, the Act now requires local
authorities to submit within one year their proposals for dealing with slum
clearance. This programme is now being prepared and will be submitted to the
Council for approval before being sent to the Minister. The one section of
the Act which has made it necessary for us to modify our interpretation of
unfitness is Section 9. This section specifies the matters which must now be
taken into consideration It further states that "the house shall be deemed
to be unfit if, and only if, it is so far defective in one or more of these
items that it is not reasonably suitable for occupation."
Complainants have hitherto come to expect the department to serve notices
on owners in matters of decorative repairs. The Housing Repairs & Rents Act
has made this no longer possible, except in extreme cases. Where it is
attempted no doubt we shall find notices being challenged in the Courts and,
in due time, new case law being established.
That part of the Act dealing with repairs increases has resulted in many
inquiries at the rent advice bureau.
Although applications for certificates of disrepair have been numerous,
they were not as heavy as was expected. Many of the large property owning
estates did not take advantage of the provisions to increase rents. Others
undertook repairs before charging the increases.
Reactions to the issue of certificates of disrepair have not been so
violent in Tottenham as have been heard elsewhere.