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During 1972, the Council made 230 Management Orders applying The
Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1962 to
houses where there was a failure to maintain proper standards of management.
6 Notices were served under Section 4 Housing Act 1961 to make good
neglect of proper standards of management although it is true to say that in
most cases informal action secures the desired improvement.
The Prevention of Overcrowding and Control of Multiple Occupation
Overcrowding and lack of space for essential services and amenities remain
the major problems in houses in multiple occupation.
The Registration Scheme which covers the whole Borough is (1) informatory,
and (2) regulatory. Part I of the scheme requires persons in control to register with
the Council giving details of occupation and amenities available - during the year,
806 fresh registrations were made. Part II which as regulatory requires persons in
control to obtain prior approval before letting a house in multiple occupation. 61
applications were dealt with under Part II.
During the year, 482 Directions were made under Section 19 Housing Act
1961, whilst no less than 482 notices were served under Section 16 Housing Act
1961 requiring adequate means of escape in case of fire. The importance of this
work cannot be overstressed and the staff are to be congratulated upon their
dedicated approach to this very onerous work.
General Improvement Areas
These areas are being dealt with by an inter-disciplinary approach and the
Public Health Inspectorate have carried out surveys in no less than 1,636 houses
in 5 potential Improvement Areas prior to Declaration. It will be interesting
to see whether the desired co-operation with landlords can be achieved in order
to secure an improvement in the quality of the environment and the houses in
these areas. It may well be that in the areas of housing stress where the majority
of houses are rented and occupied in intense multiple occupation a new approach
will be necessary in order to secure control of occupancy and thereafter secure
the desired improvements in living conditions.
It is clear that the above surveys and the questionnaires filled in by the
people living in these areas will be of immense value in the future when policy
decisions have to be made.