Record groups of Department of Nationa Archives

Department of National Housing

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Department of National Housing

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1979-1983

History

The Department of National Housing was established under the National Housing Act No. 37 of 1945. It was amended by Acts No. 42 of 1958 and 36 of 1966. The functions and main objects of the Department were: -
(I) Granting of Loans to prospective House Builders.
(2) Acquisition and development of Lands for purposes of House Building and Construction.
(3) Construction of Houses for Residential purposes.
(4) Enforcement of the Tenant Protection Act No.28 of 1970.
(5) Enforcement of the Rent Act No.7 of 1972.
The housing construction programme of the Department was entrusted to the National Housing Development Authority in April 1979, thereafter the scope and functions of the Housing Department have been restricted to: -
(a) Implementation of Housing Regulations
(b) The Housing Loans Programme
(c) Allocation and Maintenance of Flats and Housing Schemes.
Apart from the granting of Loans under a Programme 1aunched by the Department for the upgrading of Rural Housing, the owners of such houses are eligible for an interest free Loan upto a maximum of Rs. 3000 or the upgrading of these houses. Ceiling on Housing property Law, Act No.9 of 1977 which empowered the transfer of houses to the Tenants without any payment. These houses are vested in the Department and the standard rent does not exceed Rs. 25/- per month.
The main objective of the Tenant Protection Act No. 28 of 1970 was the protection of Tenants against harassment and other malpractices of the Landlords.
The purpose of the Rent Act No.7 of 1972 was to establish the Rents in a situation where demand exceeds supply.

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Mandates/sources of authority

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Control area

Description identifier

LK-NA/DNH

Institution identifier

LK-NA

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Final

Level of detail

Minimal

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Language(s)

  • English
  • Sinhala

Script(s)

  • Latin

Sources

Maintenance notes