London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Surbiton 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]
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RENT ACT, 1957.
This Act and its accompanying regulations came into
operation on 6th July, 1957.
The Council delegated to the Public Health Committee
its powers relating to Certificates of Disrepair, and this
materially helps in dealing with applications in the
expeditious manner which is so important in common fairness
to the parties concerned.
The position up to the end of the year is shown in the following summary:-
| Year 1958 | Period 6th July to 31st Dec. 1957. | |
|---|---|---|
| (l) No. of applications for Certificates of Disrepair(Form I) | 56 | 61 |
| (2) No. of decisions not to issue Certificates. | 1 | 3 |
| (3) No. of decisions to issue Certificates- | ||
| (a)in respect of some but not all defects listed by tenants | 36 | |
| (b)in respect of all defects listed | 13 | 12 |
| (4) No. of undertakings to remedy defects given by landlords under paragraph 5 of the First Schedule (Form K.). | 34 | 27 |
| (5) No. of such undertakings refused by Council | Nil | Nil |
| (6) No. of notices of proposal to issue a Certificate of Disrepair served (Form J.) | 57 | 52 |
| (7) No. of Certificates of Disrepair issued (Form L.) | 32 | 10 |
| (8) No, of applications by tenants under consideration at the end of the year (Form I) | 1 | 6 |
| (9) Applications by landlords to Local Authority for cancellation of certificates (Form M.) | 16 | Nil |
| (10) Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates | 9 | Nil |
| (11) Decisions by Local Authority to cancel in spite of tenants' objections | 2 | Nil |
| (12) Certificates cancelled by Local Authority | 13 | Nil |
| (13) Refusals to cancel Certificates of Disrepair | 2 | Nil |
| (14) Certificates as to remedying of defects specified in landlord's undertaking (Form P.) | 19 | Nil |
Dealing with applications by tenants and landlords
has brought its problems, but despite the complications involved,
it can be said that there have been no serious troubles and,
so far, no appeals in which the Council has "been concerned.
There can he no doubt that a great deal of repair and
redecoration of houses has taken place as a result of this
Act-much of it without recourse to the Council.
37.