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improving their dwellings with the aid of Council grants. Practically
all the grants in the two categories have been made to these two owners.
Comparatively little of the older property in the Borough has therefore
been reconstructed or had the five standard amenities provided.
It is known that improvement grants have been made by the London
County Council to a certain Housing Trust.
Following the Circular from the Minister of Housing & Local
Government in the latter part of 1962, the Council has considered how
best to encourage the improvement of houses, as a result of which a
preliminary survey of the area has been undertaken, and letters are
being sent to those owners of houses of a type envisaged in the Circular.
During 1962 an application for standard grants in respect of a
block of 12 flats was received from a Housing Association, but was
deferred on the grounds that all the conditions had not been observed.
The Conversion of the undermentioned properties was completed
during the year without grant aid.
56/57 Myddelton Square 5 flats
REPAIR OF HOUSES UNDER THE HOUSING ACTS:
During the year, following detailed surveys and estimation of the
probable cost of repairs, official representations were made to the
Health Committee in respect of two unfit houses in the Borough. As a
result, formal Notices were served on the owners requiring the repair
of the premises. In one case the tenants were assisted in obtaining
alternative accommodation, and following an appeal to the County Court,
the owners gave an undertaking not to allow the premises to be used for
human habitation. Ultimately the Council agreed to make a Closing Order.
In the second case an appeal was pending at the end of the year.
UNFIT HOUSES & PARTS OF HOUSES:
There are still many unfit houses and parts of houses in the Borough,
that cannot be repaired at reasonable cost, although their number is
steadily deminishing. Owing to the difficulties in relation to rehousing,
it has not been practicable to secure demolition or closure of any but
those in the worst condition.
Prom time to time it has become necessary to take action to secure
closure of a few individual rooms (other than basements) in houses where
these could not be made fit at a reasonable cost.
Steps have been taken to secure closure of unsatisfactory basement
rooms, usually when these have become vacant or been known to be about
to become vacant.
The table appended summarizes the action taken during 1962 and
indicates the overall position at the end of the year.
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