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26
HOUSING
At the end of 1954 the Council had a total of 786 permanent houses,
maisonettes and flats, a total of 586 temporary houses of various types
and controlled a further 1,371 properties under requisition. The requisitioned
properties housed 1,980 units of tenancy.
During 1954, four flats and three houses were completed for the Council
and 110 flats and 14 maisonettes were in the course of construction.
During 1954, 4,238 improvements were carried out in 1,420 houses,
somewhat less than last year, and outstanding works at the end of the
year totalled 305.
In the maintenance of existing property the following is a summary of
the work done in 1954:—
Public Health (London) Act, 1936
Total number of houses inspected for housing
defects 2,412
Number of Statutory Notices served 673
Number of houses repaired or nuisances
remedied 1,420
Overcrowding
Number of individual dwellings overcrowded at
the end of the year 80
Number of families found to be living in over-
crowded conditions during the year 23
Number of families who have obtained alter-
native accommodation during the year 31
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.
Housing Repairs and Rents Act and Increase of Rent
and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts
Certificates of Disrepair were granted in 31 cases during the year.
Slum Clearance
Owing to the shortage of Sanitary Inspector's staff a comprehensive and
detailed survey has been out of the question.
A limited classification of areas and individual houses has been made
however, in connection with the next five years' Housing programme.