Viscountess Astorasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that great hardship frequently occurs to people of small means who purchase houses for their own occupation or as investments which are subsequently condemned, he will consider amending the Housing Acts so that where a dwelling house has been purchased, for a sum not exceeding a specified amount, for occupation by the purchaser or the income from which represents the chief means of subsistence of the purchaser, and is condemned as unfit for human habitation within a period of five years of the date of purchase the owner of the property shall be entitled to claim compensation from the vendor unless the 1133W vendor can produce a certificate passing the house as fit for human habitation granted by an inspector of the local authority within three months either before or after the date of the sale being completed, in which case the purchaser shall be entitled to obtain compensation from the local authority?
§ Sir K. WoodSection 51 of the Housing Act, 1936, provides owners with the opportunities of obtaining certificates from the Local Authority that a house will, with reasonable care and maintenance, remain fit for at least five years. Purchasers who have any doubts in the matter would be well advised to satisfy themselves that such certificates have been obtained and I think that by this means the unfortunate results to which my Noble Friend refers would be avoided without the need for legislation.