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56
SECTION D
HOUSING
(In conjunction with Mr. W.C. Bartlett, Chief Public Health Inspector.)
The main emphasis during the current year has been work under Part II of the
Housing Act, 1957, details of which appear on page 57/58.
It will be appreciated that the number of detailed surveys required to be
carried out by the Inspector is much higher than the numbers represented and while
there are still many unfit properties in the Borough the problem arising from
properties which fell into disrepair during the war years and have since suffered
through lack of maintenance is not nearly so serious as hitherto. At the end of
the year there still remain some 150 unfit properties to be dealt with to complete
the programme submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government under the
provisions of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
There are of course a large number of houses which fall short of the Standard
of Fitness under Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957, and which are capable of being
repaired at reasonable cost. Consideration should be given to programmed action
which will result in these properties being brought up to present-day standards.
Many of the large terraced dwelling houses in Islington comprise four storeys and
were not designed to accommodate the number of families now occuping them. Attention
must obviously be focused on securing in such properties the installation of amenities,
such as additional sanitary accommodation, water supply, together with adequate
facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food and the disposal of waste
water.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government confirmed Orders under Part II of
the Housing Act, 1957, in relation to the undermentioned Clearance Areas:-
13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and 33 Provence Street.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, and 20 Dillon Place.
The number of flats and houses erected during the year is:-
Borough Council 352
London County Council
Private Enterprise 85
The number of municipal flats and houses erected since the war is: -
Borough Council ... ... ... 3192
London County Council ... ... 2630
The total number of dwellings in the Borough at the end of the year was 44,314.
The full effects of the Rent Act, 1957, have been felt by the Department during
the year. Applications made by tenants for Certificates of Disrepair have required
the inspection of the premises in each case, together with many additional re-visits
when owners have been carrying out work in order to obtain increased rents.