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77
Where an official representation relating to not more than ten dwelling houses
is made to the County Council, the County Council shall, unless they consider that
the area should be dealt with by them as an improvement area or as part of a
clearance area containing more than ten houses, make a representation to the
Borough Council with respect to those houses.
Part II.
Part II (Clauses 14 to 21). This part of the Bill consists of provisions with
respect to the repair or demolition of Insanitary houses. The Common Council of
the City of London and the Metropolitan Borough Councils are the authorities for
this part of the Bill.
Clause 14.— This clause requires the local authority in respect of any house
occupied by persons of the working classes which they are satisfied is unfit for
human habitation, to serve a notice upon the person who receives the rack rent (as
mentioned in the next paragraph) to execute specified works to render the same
fit for habitation within a reasonable time, not less than 21 days, if, in the opinion
of the local authority, the specified works can be carried out at a reasonable
expense, and will render the house fit for human habitation.
The notice is to be served upon the person who receives the rack rent, whether
on his own account or as agent or trustee for any other person, or the person who
would receive it if the house were let at a rack rent.
Rack rent is defined as a rent which is not less than two-thirds of the full net
annual value of the house.
In determining whether a dwelling house can be rendered fit for human
habitation at a reasonable expense, regard shall be had to the estimated cost of
the works necessary to render it so fit and the value which it is estimated that the
dwelling house will have when the works are completed.
Clause 15.— This clause provides for the enforcement of notices, appeals
against notices and in default the carrying out of the works by the local authority
and for recovery of expenses incurred by the local authority in so doing. The
provisions are shortly that these expenses can be recovered from the person in
receipt of the rack rent except that if he is an agent his liability is limited to the
money he may have had in his hands on behalf of his principal since the service of
the notice. The local authority may order such expenses to be paid by instalments
and such instalments may be recovered summarily from the owner or occupier and
if recovered from the occupier may be deducted from the rent of the house. Such
expenses are further made a charge upon the premises and the local authority is
placed in the position of mortgagees for the recovery thereof.
Clause 16.— This clause provides that where a local authority are satisfied
that a house is unfit for human habitation and is not capable at a reasonable
expense of being rendered so fit, they shall serve notice on the owner and other
persons interested, of a time and place when and where any offer with respect to
carrying out works to or the future user of the house will be considered by them
and such persons shall then be entitled to be heard. The authority may accept
an undertaking from the owner either that he will within a specified period carry
out the works necessary to render the house fit for human habitation or that it
shall not be used for human habitation until the authority is satisfied that it has
been so rendered fit.
If no such undertaking is given, or an undertaking is broken, the Council
shall require the house to be vacated within a period of not less than 28 days and
demolished within 6 weeks after the expiration of that period or after the date
on which it is vacated.
Clause 17.— This clause gives power to the local authority to deal with part
of a building let as a separate tenement.
Clause 18.— This clause requires the local authority to demolish a house
where the order to do so is not complied with by the owner in the limit of time
provided by the order. A fine not exceeding £20 on summary conviction is