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HOUSING ACT. 1961
Part II of this Act which came into force on the 24th November, 1961,
particularly affects the work of the Public Health Department for it deals
with houses in multiple occupation previously known as houses let in lodgings,
being occupied by members of more than one family. The new powers are
considerably stronger than those of earlier Acts, but it is the desire of
the Minister of Housing and Local Government that the new powers should be
applied in a reasonable manner and management orders only made in respect of
particularly bad or badly managed properties.
Briefly the powers under Part II are divided into the following five
groupss-
(1) Imposition of management orders on houses in multiple occupation
which fall very much below a proper standard of management. This entails the
enforcement of Regulations prescribed by the Minister.
(2) Power to require the provision of reasonable and sufficient
facilities and amenities to permit of a decent standard of living, these
include water supply, washing arrangements, drainage, water closets, food
storage, preparation and cooking, sinks and disposal of waste water, lighting,
ventilation and space heating.
(3) Provision of means of escape in case of fire.
(4) Power to carry out work in default and recover the cost.
(5) Power for Local Authority to make a "direction" fixing the number of
persons who may occupy a house, to prevent over-occupation.
No extra staff has been engaged to deal with these new duties and no
specific area has been selected to deal with by way of house-to-house inspection.
The policy is to deal with known individual units of bad housing, premises
known to have been recently let to multiple tenants or premises where there
is knowledge of possible future multiple letting. In the latter category full
compliance is being obtained in all cases as a result of informal action.
38 premises were inspected during the year involving 141 separate lettings.
3 formal notices were served on three separate houses where great difficulty
was being experienced with the owners, and in respect of two of these houses
management orders were served* resulting in both houses being offered for sale.
In the third case the owner of the property undertook to recover possession
from the tenant sub-letting and re-let the house for occupation by one family
only. The work to the remainder of the properties has been or is being
carried out without service of notice.
UNDERGROUND ROOMS
New regulations were made by the Council on the 7th November, 1963, and
submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government for confirmation
which is still awaited. Meanwhile existing regulations continue to be
administered in a reasonable manner the policy being to deal with all
unoccupied basements if possible before they are let or relet as dwelling
accommodation^ many such premises come to the notice of the Public Health