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29
HOUSING
HOUSING ACT, 1936
PART II (Provisions for securing the repair, maintenance and sanitary condition
of houses)
Section 4 (Information to tenants). The several sanitary inspectors reported
16 instances of failure to include in rent books the name and address of the
Medical Officer of Health and/or the landlord or other person responsible for
keeping the house in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation. Notices
drawing attention to the omissions and warning that failure to comply with the
requirements of the section would result in legal proceedings were sent to the
persons concerned.
Section 6 (London County Council Byelaws as to Lodging Houses for the WorkingClasses).
Three summonses, twodealing with lighting of common staircases and one
with cleaning of parts of house in communal use, were issued; in two instances
a penalty and costs was imposed and in the third case a penalty without costs.
Sections 9 & 10 (Repair of insanitary houses), Reconditioning of houses under
Section 9 was considerably curtailed because the three Sanitary Inspectors
seconded to this work had left the service of the Council. In the circumstances
the Senior Housing Inspector concentrated on securing compliance with
notices previously served rather than carrying out large scale initial inspections
of other properties. Eleven houses were inspected and found to be in
some respects unfit for habitation; two informal notices and nine formal
notices were served. In addition, 31 formal notices were served in respect
of houses inspected in 1951, making a total of 40 notices served during the year.
In all, 174 houses were made fit, 63 as a result of informal action and
111 following formal action. Seventy seven of these 111 houses were made fit
by the owners while the Council, in pursuance of their default powers, carried
out the whole of the work required by notices at 22 houses, and at 12 houses
the work left outstanding by the owners. Five notices were withdrawn, the
properties having been acquired under a Compulsory Purchase Order.
properties having been acquired under a Compulsory Purchase Order. The total
cost of the work carried out by the Council at the 34 houses was £3,905 10s. 2d: