View report page

HOUSING—CLEARANCE OF UNFIT HOUSES
During the year a survey of houses in the Groves area was continued with a
view to the clearance of unfit houses in that area. As a result of this survey a
further 43 houses were scheduled for clearance.
One dwelling was reported for a demolition order.
Closing Orders were made on three basements and one closing order made
on a basement was determined.
HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
During the year Regulations made by the Minister of Housing and Local
Government under the Housing Act, 1961, in respect of this class of dwelling
came into operation.
The object of this legislation is inter alia
(i) to make good neglect of proper standards of management;
(ii) to require the minimum facilities and amenities where absent;
(iii) to increase penalties for failure to abate overcrowding;
(iv) to limit the number of persons who may live in this class of dwelling.
Decontrol, high rentals, house shortage and immigration have increased the
number of this class of dwellings, and often created conditions of squalor, so that
people live under conditions much inferior to those in many dwellings classified
as slums. Legislation was therefore urgently required in order to deal with
these conditions.
Two of this class of dwelling were surveyed and the Committee authorised
appropriate action.
As soon as the legal formalities were started with a view to the application
of the requirements set out in the Act and Regulations, the owners gave the
occupants notice to quit and sold the houses.
This action by the owners frustrated the efforts to implement the requirements
laid down.