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41
HOUSING
Local authorities have specific obligations under the Housing Acts
with regard to the repair, closure or demolition of unfit houses, and
the action taken in this Borough during the past year to fulfil these
obligations is set out below:-
HOUSING ACT, 19 36
Part II
(Provisions for securing the repair, maintenance
and sanitary condition of houses)
SECTION 4 (Information to be given to tenants). In twenty-nine
instances notices were sent to persons who failed to enter in their
tenants' rent books the name and address of the medical officer of
health and of the landlord or other person responsible for keeping the
houses in all respects fit for human habitation.
SECTION 5 (Duty of local authority to inspect their district and
keep records). With a view to action being taken under the appropriate
legislation, 1,218 premises were inspected and recorded in accordance
with the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 and 1932 made under this
section.
SECTION 9 (Power of local authority to require repair of insanitary
house), One notice was served under this section.
SECTION 11 (Power of local authority to order demolition of insanitary
house). Under the provisions of this section, demolition orders were
made in respect of
15 Amhurst Terrace,
2 Hillyfield Cottages.
The following three houses were demolished by the owners:-
88 Alkham Road (Demolition Order made 14th December, 1955)
15 Amhurst Terrace (Demolition Order made 11th July, 1956)
221 Wick Road (Demolition Order made 9th November, 1955).
In pursuance of the powers contained in Section 10 of the Local
Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953, a closing order was
nade in respect of 66 Mortimer Road; in this case demolition was deemed
to be inexpedient having regard to the effect thereof on adjoining
houses.
One house, 134 Southgate Road, the subject of a closing order made
in 1953, was voluntarily demolished by the owner.
The closing order made on the 9th March, 1955, in respect of 7
Sheep Lane was determined, the owner having carried out the works
necessary to render the house fit for human habitation.
The making of demolition orders in the cases of 39 Mortimer Road
and 5 Templar Road was deferred pending consideration being given to
their purchase by the Council for temporary accommodation, under the
Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, Section 3 (Power to purchase for
temporary accommodation in lieu of making demolition orders).