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Conversions and Improvements:
Since the inception of the improvement and standard grants schemes,
only two major property owning companies have taken the opportunity of
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.
Improvement grants have been made by the London County Council to a
certain Housing Trust.
The main difficulties preventing greater use of the grants scheme
appear to be over-occupation of premises, lack of room for additional
amenities, refusal of tenants to accept improvements, the inability of
landlords to decant tenants in order to carry out improvements, the lack of
capital particularly of owners of individual houses, and insufficent financial
inducement generally.
For the record, during 1964, the Council approved one application for
a standard grant and one for a discretionary grant in respect of private
houses. In addition, it approved discretionary grants to enable the owners
to modernise a block of 16 flats.
The Conversion of the undermentioned properties was completed
during the year:—
Peabody Estate Block B. 15 flats
60/62 Myddleton Square 9 "
Springfield Court. 25 "
26 Northampton Square. 1 house
Pennybank Chambers (rendered fit
by L.C.C. and Closing Orders
determined). 16 flats.
Repair of Houses under the Housing Acts:
No representations were made during 1964.
Unfit Houses and 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
diminishing. 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.
From 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 when these have become vacant or been known to be about to become
vacant.
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