View report page

21
HOUSING ACT, 1936. PART II. Sections 11 & 12.
Two houses were Represented to the Housing Committee for Demolition
Orders. Undertakings were subsequently received from the Owners,
in accordance with the Act, that the premises would not be used for
human habitation.
Closing Orders were made or undertakings similarly accepted in respect
of ten underground rooms at four premises.
There are many other premises in the Borough which warrant procedure
under this part of the Act, but action thereon is impossible whilst
the present rehousing situation continues.
HOUSING ACT, 1936. Sections 9, 10 & 16.
Action under Statutory Powers.
Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Notices were served
requiring repairs 29
Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit after service of
formal notices 12
(In one case the work was executed by the Council's contractors,
in default of the Owner, at a cost of £63.)
Number of dwelling-houses where works were in progress at the end
of the year 10
(Of these, three were premises where works were being executed
by the Council's contractors in default of the Owner, at a
total cost of approximately £1,850.)
Number of premises rendered fit by the Owners after service of
informal notices 5
(These were houses which could not be rendered fit at “reasonable
expense " in accordance with Section 9.)
From the above it will be noted that there has been a considerable
increase in the work of the Department in connection with the Repairs
Section of the Housing Act. To cope with this, in June, 1950, Mr. W.
Robinson, Deputy Chief Sanitary Inspector, was delegated full time to
housing repair work.
It is estimated that the cost of the repairs required by the Section 9
Notices served so far (formal and informal), amounted to the substantial
amount of £14,699.
The fundamental basis of Section 9 notices is that houses can be
rendered fit for human habitation at “reasonable expense". Post-war
economic considerations have, however, completely upset the balance
between income and expenditure on house property. For example,
comparing pre-war conditions, rentals are substantially the same, whereas
the cost of repairs has more than trebled.
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE INSPECTIONS. (Tenement House
Byelaws, Housing Consolidation Regulations.)
On the 16th January, 1950, Mr. R. Clark was appointed as a temporary
Sanitary Inspector, vice Mr. Parry (resigned), and he continued the survey
of premises in the Belsize, Kilburn, Priory and West End Wards.