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Twelve underground rooms were closed during the year, not only
because they did not comply with the Underground Room Regulations,
but on account of their liability to flooding.
INCREASE OF RENT AND MORTGAGE INTEREST
(RESTRICTIONS) ACTS.
No certificate was issued during the year.
HOUSING.
1. Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing
defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) 3,104
2. Number of dwelling-houses (included in (1) above) which were
inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated
Regulations, 1925 and 1932 33
3. Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so
ous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human
habitation 3
4. Number of dwelling-houses found not to be in all respects fit
for human habitation 1,411
HOUSING ACT, 1936. PART II. Sections 11 & 12.
Closing Orders were made or undertakings accepted in respect of
twenty underground rooms at ten 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 18
Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit after service of
formal notices 15
Number of dwelling-houses where works were in progress at the end
of the year 2
Number of premises rendered fit by the Owners after service of
informal notices 2
(These were houses which could not be rendered fit at "reasonable
expense " in accordance with Section 9.)
This work has again been carried out by Mr. W. Robinson, Deputy
Chief Sanitary Inspector, under conditions of increasing difficulty.
Building repairs and materials costs have risen, and are still rising, so
steeply that rents which have remained controlled are quite insufficient
to provide for even the minimum amount of works of maintenance and
repair required to preserve the fabric of buildings.
Nevertheless, this work has proceeded throughout the year with but
one appeal to the County Court against the requirements of a Section 9
notice and this appeal was subsequently withdrawn prior to the hearing.