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Section 170
This section gives a Local Authority power to require information as to the ownership
of premises. This information is necessary for the fulfilment of the appropriate procedures
both with regard to action on unfit houses under the 1957 Act and also action under the 1961
Act, to which reference is made later, i.e. management orders, notices under sections 15 and
16 and direction orders.
Great difficulty is frequently experienced in obtaining adequate replies to these requests
for information. During the year a large number of presecutions (41) were taken for failure to
supply information. Although penalties are small (maximum fine £5), this had the desired affect
in the majority of cases and the required information was obtained.
Housing Act 1961 - Section 12 - Management Orders
These orders apply to individual houses the Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple
Occupation) Regulations 1962. During the year it was necessary to represent only six houses for
management order. In fact, eleven orders were made which represented an inroad into the back
log referred to last year. This was possible due to the successful action taken under Section
170 of the Housing Act 1957. In two cases it was possible to rescind orders as conditions had
improved to an acceptable standard.
Section 15 - Provision of Amenities
The increased use of this section referred to last year was continued. 307 informal and
112 formal notices were served.
The resistance on the part of owners to compliance with these notices continued due, no
doubt, to the high cost of the necessary works. Forty prosecutions were taken during the year
for non-compliance with these notices. This resulted in a more co-operative attitude on the
part of the owners and agents.
Section 16 - Means of Escape in Case of Fire in Houses in Multiple Occupation
The powers contained in this section were again freely used, 354 informal and 178 formal
notices were served. Follow-up visits were made to premises which had previously been dealt
with under this section and also which had been dealt with under section 35 of the London
Building Acts (Amendment) Act, 1939, to check that the means of escape provided was being
properly maintained.
Because of the importance of this work it was agreed to increase the number of staff
employed and the addition of three posts of Fire Inspector to the establishment was authorised.
Section 19 - Direction Orders
This section gives the power to regulate the number of persons who can live in a house,
or part of a house, in relation to the amenities which are available. This proved a most
useful tool in controlling the number of persons living in houses in multiple occupation.
Although only 24 direction orders were made during the year, it was hoped in view of the
successful prosecutions under section 170, previously referred to, that this number would be
increased markedly in the future.
This work was time-consuming in the number of visits required to ensure compliance,
particularly in view of the high turnover of tenancies in the very houses which lend themselves
to this type of action.
Seven prosecutions for contraventions of direction orders were taken during the year.
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