View report page

42
Owners continued to find that certain houses are uneconomic, and notices
served under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, did not always result in the
work being carried out in order to keep such premises free from nuisance. In certain
instances where owners have abandoned property, legal proceedings did not always
result in the abatement of nuisances, even where prosecutions have been taken out
for failing to comply with an abatement order. It is then necessary to consider
the representation of such property under Section 11 or 12 of the Housing Act, 1936,
for closure or demolition as appropriate.

The estimated cost of demolition, clearing the
site, erecting, shoring and rendering exposed
flank walls—£450.
The Council's Valuers' Valuation for the
freehold in the open market after the execution
of the works at the above-mentioned
cost with the statutory tenancies continuing £300 £300 £225
It will be obvious that such properties fall outside the provisions of Section 9
of the Housing Act, 1936, and can only be dealt with by demolition procedure. Such
cases could be multiplied, and in view of the condition of properties in the Borough,
it is anticipated that the housing situation in Islington will deteriorate for some time
to come.
Much of the property should be cleared and the sites redeveloped, but owing
to the general housing situation it has not been possible to initiate slum clearance
procedure on a major scale. Agreement has, however, been reached with the London
County Council in respect of a slum clearance programme extending over a number
of years.
Certain of the Sanitary Inspectors were engaged during the year on a survey
of Whadcoat Street, and preliminary steps were taken with a view to representing
that portion of the street situated between Biggerstaff Street and Lennox Road
under Part III of the Housing Act, 1936, as a clearance area. The total number of
houses is 38, occupied by 87 families with a total of 271 occupants.