View report page

44
places an obligation upon the Council to submit within the next 12 months for the
Minister's approval proposals for dealing in one way or another with the houses
in its area which appear to be unfit for human habitation and with any other houses
within the district which are, or ought to be, included in clearance areas. The
standard of fitness for human habitation has been revised and, in determining for
any purposes of the principal Act whether a house is unfit for human habitation,
regard shall be had to its condition in respect of certain specified matters. Consequent
upon the passing of this Act the L.C.C. byelaws as to Lodging Houses for the
Working Classes ceased to have effect, and as the appropriate section of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936, was also repealed, the proposed byelaws relating to
hostels could not be proceeded with.
Part II of this statute deals with the repairs increases in respect of controlled
dwelling houses and makes certain amendments to the Rents Acts. Landlords can now
in certain cases increase rents and this statute details the procedure which must be
adopted. Tenants may, either under this Act or the Increase of Rent and Mortgage
Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, whichever is applicable, apply for Certificates of
Disrepair from the Council and the number of such applications has considerably
increased since the coming into operation of this Act, as will be seen by reference
to the table given on Page 25 of this Report.
Part III of this Act deals with miscellaneous and general provisions and includes
modifications of procedure for obtaining Clearance Orders and certain Compulsory
Purchase Orders.
In order to carry out its obligations under this Act the Council approved an
increase of three in the establishment of Sanitary Inspectors and the upgrading of
all the positions of Inspectors engaged on duties under this statute. The implementation
of this Act will cause a considerable increase in the work of Inspectors and
the Department generally.
The majority of the dwellings in the borough are reaching their centenary, are
occupied by several families, and are falling into a state of disrepair and dilapidation.
Owners in many cases find it difficult to comply with the requirements of the Council
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and upon finding the houses
uneconomic, abandon them.
In Circular 30/54 received from the Minister of Housing and Local Government
in March the Council was asked to resume the full exercise of powers under
Parts II and III of the Housing Act, 1936, and later Circular 55/54 explained the
provisions of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, to facilitate the enforcement
of essential repairs and the clearance and replacement of slum houses.
In view of the fact that the work under the Housing Act in connection with
slum clearance, improvement areas and repair of houses is being recommenced—
having been discontinued for 15 years—the Council agreed to those Inspectors whose
duties were closely associated with this work attending a course of ten lectures at
advanced level arranged by the London Centre of the Sanitary Inspectors'' Association,
which commenced in December this year. These lectures, opened by the
Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, are of
a high standard and both the Council and its Inspectors will benefit by the attendance
of the Department's technical officers.
There are approximately 14,000 underground rooms in the borough, the majority
of which do not comply with the requirements of Section 12 of the Housing Act,