HC Deb 22 July 1919 vol 118 cc1312-4

  1. (1) If the owner of any house suitable for occupation by persons of the working classes fails to make and keep such house in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation then, without prejudice to any other powers, the local authority may serve a notice upon the owner of such house requiring him within a reasonable time, not being less than twenty-one days specified in the notice, to execute such works as may be necessary to make the house in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation.
  2. (2) If the notice given by the local authority is not complied with, the authority may at the expiration of the time specified in the notice given by them to the owner, do the work required to be done.
  3. (3) Any expense incurred by the local authority under this Section may be recovered in a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, together with interest at a rate not exceeding five pounds per centum per annum from the date of service of a demand for the same till payment there of from the owner, and until recovery of such expenses and interest the same shall be a charge on the premises. In all summary proceedings by the local authority for the recovery of any such expenses, the time within which such proceedings may be taken shall be reckoned from the date of the service of notice of demand.
  4. (4)The local authority may by order declare any such expenses to be payable by monthly or annual instalments within a period not exceeding thirty years with interest at a rate not exceeding five pounds per centum per annum from the date of the service of notice of demand until the whole amount is paid, and any such instalments and interest or any part thereof maybe recovered in a summary manner from the owner or occupier, and may be deducted from the rent of such premises.
  5. (5)The local authority, if they think it, from time to time (in addition and without prejudice to any other remedy) may recover in a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, or as a simple contract debt, by action in any Court of Competent Jurisdiction, from the owner for the time being of any such premises the whole or any portion of such expenses and interest.

Lords Amendment:

In Sub-section (I), at the end, add the words Provided that the owner may within twenty-one days after the receipt of such notice, by written notice to the local authority, declare his intention of closing the house for human habitation, and thereupon a closing order shall be deemed to have become operative in respect of such house.

Dr. ADDISON

I beg to move, That this House doth disagree with the Lords in the said Amendment. This relates to owners of houses suitable for occupation for the working classes who fail to make such houses reasonably fit for habitation. The Amendment would have a most deplorable effect. There are thousands of houses in London alone, many of which we are having scheduled now, and lists will be ready as soon as this Bill is law. It would mean that in the present serious shortage of housing accommodation it would be open to a person, notwithstanding the requirements of the local authority, which involves two conditions, namely, that the house could be put into proper order, and, secondly, that it ought to be put into proper order, to close his house. Clearly where these two conditions are existent no private individual ought to have the power to close a house against the public. It is thoroughly improper. It could not have been fully understood. It would have the most disastrous effect in London. I am sure that was far from the interests of those who put it in.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendments:

n Sub-section (2), after the word "with" ["is not complied with"],insert the words and if the owner has not given such notice as aforesaid. —Disagreed with.

In Sub-section (3), leave out the word "expense" ["Any expense incurred"], and insert instead thereof the word expense. —Agreed to.

In Sub-section (4), after the word "and" ["and may be deducted"], insert the words if recovered from the occupier. —Agreed to.

After the word "deducted," insert the words by him. —Agreed to.

Leave out Sub-section (5). — Agreed to.

After CLAUSE 27, insert: