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48
Other Permanent Housing Sites. Consideration was given during
the year by this Council, and by the London County Council, to the
acquisition of a number of sites, with a view to their redevelopment as
housing sites.
Prefabricated Bungalows. Early in the year the Council's programme
for the provision of these bungalows was completed by the
erection of 9 further bungalows. The total number provided since the
war is 463.
Private Enter prise. During the year 4 houses, which had been
demolished by enemy action, were rebuilt by the owners, and the
rebuilding of two more commenced.
Summary of New Accommodation Provided.
By Battersea Borough Council (Permanent) 64
(Temporary) 9
— 73
By London County Council 105
By Private Enterprise 4
182
Conversion of Existing Houses.
During the year the Council converted into flats 12 houses held
under requisition. 28 family units were made available in this way.
Repair of Unfit Houses.
The question of the maintenance of existing housing accommodation
is one of grave concern. Virtually all houses, with the exception of
those which have had major works of repair following damage by. enemy
action, have had very little maintenance work done to them for the
past ten years. Furthermore, many of them have, by reason of the
general shortage of housing accommodation, been occupied by more
families than would normally have been the case, and have suffered an
amount of extra wear and tear. Very many houses, being of considerable
age, and not too well constructed, simply will not stand up to
continued neglect, and it is no exaggeration to say that quite an appreciable
number have already reached a stage of disrepair at which it is
problematical whether they can, without virtual reconstruction, be
rendered fit for habitation. Very many more are fast approaching that
stage. It is abundantly clear that, at the present rate of progress in the
provision of new accommodation, a lengthy period will elapse before
the general shortage of houses is overtaken, to say nothing of the
replacement of those which have come to the end of their useful life.
The maintenance of existing houses is, therefore, a matter of paramount
importance. This question of maintenance is complicated by the large
increase in the cost of building work, coupled with the pegging
practically all rents at pre-war levels. These two factors have led to a
situation in which the owner of the average house is often unable to
overtake arrears of maintenance, and to keep it fit for habitation,
without incurring an expenditure out of all proportion to the income
from the house. Unless a remedy is found, there will inevitably be a
serious and progressive decline in the general standard of housing
accommodation.