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35
HOUSING
There are virtually no areas remaining in Hampstead
which can be dealt with under slum clearance procedure. There
are still several small areas which were included in the slum
clearance programme and in which some of the dwellings are still
occupied. None of these areas is suitable for redevelopment and
some of the dwellings have been so improved that they are not now
representable. The remainder will be dealt with by closing or
demolition orders as and when it is possible to rehouse the
occupants if they are not previously improved.
The absence of areas suitable for clearance does not
mean that there are no unsatisfactory dwellings in Hampstead.
There are many well built and substantial dwellings which in
themselves are not unfit but which are so occupied as to create
unsatisfactory living conditions. The Government's proposals
concerning houses in multi-occupation may well be a great help
in dealing with these cases.
In addition, particularly in the Hampstead Village area,
there are many small houses which are extremely crowded with
very narrow streets and in some cases in a poor state of repair.
A great many of these houses have been listed as being of historical
or architectural merit and there is no doubt that if this area were
redeveloped with wider streets and less crowded houses, the whole
character of the district would be changed-and the local feeling
is that the change would be for the worse.
These small houses command a high price although it
is often necessary to spend in addition to the cost price a sum
comparable with the cost of building a new house, in order to
put them into a satisfactory state. A number of these houses are
occupied by tenants at controlled rents with security of tenure.
The value of the property which is so occupied may be insufficient
to allow for all the necessary repairs to be carried out at a
reasonable cost. Irrespective of the architectural merit of the
premises, a demolition order is usually impracticable because
of the condition of adjoining properties and if a closing order is
made and the house vacated, there is an immediate increase in
the value of the property so that the expenditure of some thousands
of pounds on repair is "reasonable".