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4
description of the exhibition is given later in this report but I should
pay tribute here to the Housing Architect and his staff who were responsible
for the design and lay-out of the exhibition which was the real
basis of its success.
Housing conditions throughout the borough have maintained a
steady, if slow, improvement, and there is an increase in the standards
which occupiers now rightly expect. One of the problems in Hampstead
is that of houses which were built originally for single family occupation
and which are now occupied by a number of families. In some cases
the houses are let off in single rooms and whilst there is always the
suspicion that the house is being used in this way merely to produce a
larger rent, it is true that there is a considerable need for this type
of accommodation in Hampstead.
It is, however, necessary to ensure that where the number
of persons or the number of families living in a house is increased,
the sanitary and other facilities are adequate to give good living
conditions.
The Housing Act, 1961 , which was passed towards the end of
that year, provides the necessary powers to require proper standards,
including improvements, in houses which are in multiple occupation
but it was. found that the application of the Act presented a good deal
of difficulty in the early stages.
It was necessary for the Council to fix standards giving the
number or proportion of W. C's. , sinks, baths, etc. which should be
provided and a Code of Practice was adopted which was recommended
by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee and which
takes account of the Ministry's recommendations.
Difficulties were also envisaged concerning the rehousing of
families who would have to leave the houses as a consequence of the
requirements for additional facilities. The result was that a
disappointingly small amount of work was carried out under this Act
until the end of 1962. It is, however, hoped that the number of
premises dealt with in 1963 will be substantial,
What may be a major landmark in the history of local government
in Hampstead was the introduction of the London Government