Housing of the Working Classes Act 1885

Amendment of Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts

5 Amendment of 38 & 39 Vict. c.36 s.8 and schedule; 42 & 43 Vict. c.63; 45 & 46 Vict. c.54, schedule

(1) The Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts, 1875 to 1882, shall extend to all urban sanitary districts.

(2) In either of the following cases :

(a) Where an officer of health has reported to any local authority in the metropolis, exclusive of the City of London, either in pursuance of the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Act, 1868, that any premises are in a condition or state dangerous to health, so as to be unfit for human habitation, or in pursuance of section eight of the Artizans Dwellings Act, 1882, that the pulling down of any obstructive buildings would be expedient, and such authority resolve that the case of such premises or buildings is of such general importance to the metropolis that it should be deal with by a scheme under the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts, 1875 to 1882; or

(b) Where any such official representation as mentioned in section three of the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Act, 1875, has been made to the Metropolitan Board of Works in relation to any houses, courts, or alleys within a certain area, and the Metropolitan Board of Works resolve that the case of such houses, courts, or alleys is not of general importance to the metropolis, and should be dealt with under the Artizans Dwellings Acts, 1868 to 1882 :

such local authority or board may submit such resolution to one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and thereupon the Secretary of State may appoint an arbitrator, and direct him to hold a local inquiry, and such arbitrator shall hold such inquiry, and report to the Secretary of State as to whether, having regard to the size of the area, to the number of houses to be dealt with, to the position, structure, and sanitary condition of such houses, and of the neighbourhood thereof, and to the provisions of section three of the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Act, 1875, the case is either wholly or partially of any and what importance to the metropolis at large, with power to such arbitrator to report that in the event of the case being dealt with under the Artizans Dwellings Acts, 1868 to 1882, the Metropolitan Board of Works ought to make a contribution in respect of the expense of dealing with the case. The Secretary of State, after considering the report of the arbitrator, may, according as to him seems just, decide that the case shall be dealt with either under the Artizans Dwellings Acts, 1868 to 1882, or under the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts, 1875 to 1882, and the officer of health or other proper officer shall forthwith make the report or official representation necessary for proceedings in accordance with such decision.

(3) Where an arbitrator has under the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts, 1875 to 1882, determined the amount of compensation, an appeal shall not lie to a jury from the decision of such arbitrator without leave of the High Court of Justice, but such court or any judge thereof at chambers may grant such leave upon application in a summary manner, and upon being satisfied that a failure of justice will take place if the leave is not granted.