TENANTS COMPLAIN

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 4

TENANTS COMPLAIN

Bad housing alleged

c I Only one of 44 houses [owned by a Christchurch landlord meets the requirements of a Christchurch City Council by-law on accommodation houses, a report issued by the Christchurch Tenants’ Protection Association claims. Trust, said on Tuesday. The association said that violations of the by-law include failure to provide any means of room or water heating or adequate washing facilities; a lack of food storage and cooking facilities; excessive dampness, mould, leaks, and draughts; fleas, rats, worms, and silverfish; undersize rooms; flats with one room serving as livingroom, bedroom and kitchen; bare walls where paint and wallpaper had worn awav; worn and cracked woodwork, and poor or no ventilation. “Most of the defects have obviously existed for many years, and in a lot of cases they are having very apparent effects on the health of tenants,” Miss K. Seager. a spokesman for the association said yesterday. “The association sent a list of the violations to the landlord demanding that improvements be made within one month. This time is now almost un and no action has been taken. The list has also been sent to the Health Department of the City Council requesting it to take immediate action to obtain compliance with the law and to prosecute if necessary,” Miss Seager said. “One meeting had already been held of all tenants from the 44 fiats and houses owned by the landlord,” she said- " Another will be held on June 24 to determine what steps we can take to clear up this disgusting situation."