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HOUSING REPAIR WORK
Early in the year, a comprehensive report was made on the work
carried out under the Housing Act during the past five years#
In 1947 the Public Health and Housing Committees;, concerned at
the housing conditions existing at the western end of the Borough,
appointed deputed members to advise on action to secure improvements.
The condition of these old, structurally worn houses, lacking essential
amenities, had been aggravated by the War. In dealing with housing
conditions only two years after the cessation of hostilities, the action
of the Council compared favourably with that of other Matropolitan
Boroughs# The public were less tolerant of bad. conditions, and the
frequent service of notices dealing with nuisances on complaint was
failing to arrest deterioration. The deputed members decided that the
provisions of the Housing Act, 1936, should be operated to arrest decay
and remedy insanitary conditions, and that two additional Sanitary
Inspectors should be appointed.
Preliminary Work. The deputed members decided that house-tohouse
inspections should be made under the Housing Act, 1936, having
regard to the future life of the property; that Lodging Houses should
be registered, and "underground" rooms should be dealt with after making
suitable regulations.
The application of the provisions of the Housing Acts to secure the
repair and provision of additional conveniences and amenities in old,
badly planned and poorly const rusted houses in multiple occupation is
beset with difficulties. The cost of making a house fit for habitation
under the Housing Act mast be reasonable, and a suitable standard of
fitness must be related to the cost of repairs (which have increased by
almost 2006 over pre-war costs), the small income due to the control of
Rents by the Rent Restrictions Act, and the ability to recover the outlay.
The small builder who usually undertakes this type of work is
content with a low margin of profit and requires daily supervision, but
the effort is worth while when the achievement is considered against the
cost of new accommodation for rehousing.
Methods Employed. Nine areas were surveyed. Each house therein was
inspected in detail, and those found below reasonable standard of fitness
but capable of improvement were selected for reconditioning. The aim has
been to improve housing conditions, and by prolonging the habitability of
dwellings to relieve the housing shortage. The procedure has been design ad
to give these properties a life of at least a further ten years. The
Inspector decides the respects in which the house is unfit for human
habitation, and prepares a specification of works, with measurements of
materials required. In addition to external and internal disrepair of
floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and fireplaces, items such as
insufficiency of ventilation and light, defective sanitation, rising and