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resulted in many enquiries from solicitors acting for purchasers, estate agents and
individual prospective owners when the opportunity has been taken to advise on
the Council's requirements. In this way, many properties coming into multi-occupation
are rendered satisfactory.
The second problem is the spread of multi-occupation from certain defined areas
to other parts of the Borough, which, until recently, were one family houses. These
houses are, in many cases, too large for the present-day requirements of one family
and, in the present housing situation, the creation of more units of accommodation
is to be welcomed. However, each house is not always divided into self-contained
units where there is control through Town Planning requirements and thus multiple
occupation takes place without the prior knowledge or approval of the Council.
It is imperative that control be achieved by some form of prior approval such
as an amended Registration Scheme which would enable the Council to ensure that
any property coming into multi-occupation would comply with the Council's minimum
standards for the type of occupation envisaged.
Control must be the essence of any future legislation designed to alleviate
overcrowded living conditions and provide the services and amenities which are so
vital to a happy and reasonable environment.
HOUSING ACTS 1961 AND 1964 - HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Number of visits and revisits made 1,827
Number of Notices served:— Section 12 44
Section 14 2
Section 15 15
Section 16 54
Section 19 62
HOUSING (FINANCIAL PROVISION) ACT, 1958
The Council, and also the Greater London Council, requires that applicants
for mortgages for the purchase of houses should undertake that all such properties
should conform to the provisions of the Housing Act relating to multiple occupation,
and that any underground rooms should be made to conform with the Regulations.
In this connection 387 visits and revisits were carried out. In addition, 516 visits
and revisits were made to houses where mortgages had previously been granted by
the Council, the Greater London Council or Wandsworth Council, to ascertain the
present condition and occupation of the houses.
HOUSE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
Discretionary Grants
There are many houses in the Borough which, under modern conditions of
living are too large for one family and owners are persuaded to convert these houses
into smaller self-contained units.