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56
HOUSING
HOUSING ACT. 1957
This Act which came into force on the 1st September, 1957, consolidated
the enactments relating to housing with the exception of certain provisions
relating to financial matters. It also modified the provisions contained in
Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936 with regard to the closure of underground
rooms. This modification was based on the decision in the Critchell v Lambeth
Borough Council case which had the effect of invalidating the underground room
regulations, and made the standard of fitness set out in what was then Section
9 of the Housing Repairs and. Rents Act, 1954, the primary basis for determining
whether or not an underground room was unfit for human habitation.
The following is a summary of the, action taken under the Housing Act,
1936, and the Housing Act, 1957, but for convenience only the relative sections
of the 1957 Act are quoted:-
Part II
(Provisions for securing the repair, maintenance
and sanitary condition of houses)
SECTION 3 (Duty of local authority to inspect district and keep records).
With a view to action being taken under the appropriate legislation, 1,332
premises were inspected and recorded in accordance with the Housing Consolidated
Regulations, 1925 and 1932 made under this section.
SECTION 8 (Information to be given to tenants). In 31 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 persons
responsible for keeping the houses in all respects reasonably fit for human
habitation,
SECTION 9 (Power of local authority to require repair of unfit house). One
notice was served under this section,
SECTION 16 (Power of local authority to accept undertaking as to reconstruction
or use of unfit house). In lieu of making closing or demolition orders
undertakings to make fit were accepted in respect of the following premises;
these undertakings were cancelled upon completion of the necessary works to the
satisfaction of the Council;-
37 De Beauvoir Square
215 Rushmore Road
SECTION 17 (Duty of local authority to make demolition or closing order or to
purchase house where no undertaking is accepted). In pursuance of the provisions
of this section, the following orders were made:-
Closing Orders;
Demolition Orders:
28 Bentley Road
37 Downham Road
42 Downham Road
44 Downham Road
33 Homer Road
33 Benyon Road
130 Bethune Road
28 Craven Walk
146/8 Homerton High
Street
64 Navarino Road
2 Spurstowe Terrace
5 Templar Road
421 Wick Road
26 Horton Road
6a Martello Street
33 Shacklewell Lane
118 Southgate Road
120 Southgate Road
Two houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made in the previous
year were demolished by the owners:-
2 Hillyfield Cottages
la Homer Road