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26
HOUSING
At the end of 1953 the Council had a total of 778 permanent houses,
maisonettes and flats, a total of 530 temporary houses of various types
and controlled a further 1,398 properties under requisition. The requisitioned properties housed 2,042 units of tenancy.
During 1953, 68 flats and 10 maisonettes were completed for the
Council, and 3 houses and 34 flats were in the course of construction.
During 1953, 4,583 improvements were carried out in 1,534 houses,
somewhat less than last year, and outstanding works at the end of the
year totalled 306.
In the maintenance of existing property the following is a summary of
the work done in 1953:—
Public Health (London) Act, 1936
Total number of houses inspected for housing
defects 2,424
Number of Statutory Notices served 726
Number of houses repaired or nuisances
remedied 1,534
Overcrowing
Number of individual dwellings overcrowded at
the end of the year 82
Number of families found to be living in overcrowded
conditions during year 14
Number of families who have obtained alternative
accommodation during year 5
There are many underground rooms throughout the Borough and a
fairly high proportion of them, although used as dwellings, do not conform
in all respects with the statutory requirements and cannot without major
structural alterations be made to do so. Closure is not, however, practicable
in present circumstances and owners have been co-operative in making
these rooms reasonably fit.
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts
Certificates of Disrepair were granted in 5 cases during the year.
Slum Clearance
In connection with the Slum Clearance Programme for 1956-60, a
survey was carried out in August and September, and a list of properties,
to which were accorded either first or second stages of priority, was
submitted with my recommendation for clearance.
No doubt in due course definite allocations between Borough and
County will be decided by mutual arrangement.