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It is likely that the Borough Council will accept further responsibilities within
this group.
It was noteworthy that during the year the Greater London Council acquired
Beaconsfield Buildings which, with Popham Flats above mentioned, had been two of the
largest blocks of unsatisfactory dwellings.
Two improvement schemes have been prepared for tenement blocks within group (ii),
these are: -
Peerless Buildings. Peerless Street - this block was subsequently offered
for sale to the Greater London
Council.
Pollard House, Northdown Street - this scheme was deferred for two years
as it required the decanting of several
families who needed rehousing in onebedroom
units which are in short supply.
Another block within Group (ii) was surveyed:-
Guiness Buildings, Lever Street - it was agreed with the owners that
conversion would be difficult and cause a
high decant. The owners then undertook to
redevelop the site with a modern block of
flats.
Housing Act, 1964 - Improvement Areas
Whewell Road
This area consisted of all houses in Whewell Road and portions of Landseer Road.
Alexander Road and Kingsdown Road; a total of 85 houses. Only 36 were "separate
dwellings' , as defined, and 26 of these were owner-occupied; the remaining 10
dwellings were tenanted and lacking in one or more of the standard amenities which
could be provided at reasonable expense. The houses were fit for habitation and after
improvement were expected, subject to normal maintenance, to remain so for at least
15 years. The majority of the tenants were in favour of improvement and the area was
"declared" . Nine preliminary improvement notices were served, one house having fallen
vacant.
Thirty-seven of the remaining houses were in multiple occupation, and here action
was taken under Section 15 of the Housing Act, 1961, to secure the provision of
amenities in accordance with the adopted Code of Practice.
Housing Act, 1964 - Section 19
Three formal and five informal representations were received for the individual
improvement of dwellings outside improvement areas. One formal application resulted in
the acceptance of an undertaking to improve to the full standard. This work was done.
The remaining two formal applications had to be refused as they referred to parts of
houses, not separate, in multi-occupation. Improvement works were also carried out to
the full standard in respect of each of the informal applications.
Housing (Financial Provision) Act, 1958
The Borough Council and the Greater London Council continued to require that
applicants for mortgages for house purchase should undertake that the houses must be
made to conform to the Underground Room Regulations, and to the provision of the
Housing Acts relating to multi-occupation. During the year there was almost a 100%
increase in requests for statements of requirements, which resulted in 965 visits and
revisits by the Inspectors as against 553 last year.
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