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291
[1911
All these houses had got into a very bad state, and would never have
been properly repaired, if it were not for the Housing and Town Planning
Act. The procedure adopted in Islington is for the Medical Officer of Health
to report informally to the Public Health Committee that certain houses were
in such a state as to require that an Order to close them should be made under
the Act. The Committee then visit, and as usually happens, decide to
recommend the Council to make such an Order, which has been done in every
instance.
In the case of some houses, however, the Medical Officer of Health has been
directed to write to the owners of the properties, stating that the Public Health
Committee had visited them, and had decided to recommend their Council to
enforce the provisions of the Act, if immediate steps were not taken to put
the houses into a habitable state. This threat has been entirely successful and
effective; so that in every instance workmen were immediately employed to
repair the properties thoroughly, and to put them into a condition to meet
the Committee's requirements so that they should no longer endanger the
health of the people who might live in them. It must be a satisfaction to the
Council to learn that there was in no instance any serious opposition made by
the owners.
Only once did it become necessary to serve an Order on an occupier to
quit a house. Whether or not these happy compliances with the Act will
continue when its provisions are more fully exercised is a problem that time
alone can solve.
As a result of communications addressed by the Medical Officer of Health
to the owners of No. 175, Fairbridge Road, 8, 13, 14 and 15, Caledonian
Crescent, 13 and 15, Gifford Street, and 29 and 31, Campbell Road, threatening
proceedings under the Act, these houses have been put into a habitable
condition.
Proceedings were instituted against the owner of No. 12, Henshall Street
for a contravention of the Closing Order made in respect of these premises by
allowing their occupation, and the magistrate fined him 20s. and ordered him
to pay £2 2s. costs, or, in default, imprisonment for 7 days.
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