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Unfit Premises
Details of action taken during the year in relation to closing order procedure as given in Table 13, page
66.
Tenement Dwellings
During the latter half of 1972 a senior public health inspector, with technical assistance, carried out a
re-survey of tenement dwellings throughout the City. This survey was completed by the end of the year
and a report indicating the situation regarding sub-standard tenement dwellings is being prepared.
A summary of visits in connection with tenement dwellings is included in Table 11, page 65.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
(a) Management Orders, Directions and Notices
The inspection of houses in multiple occupation in the Pimlico area has continued during the year. Some
interruption of this work occurred however because of staff shortage and the consequent necessity for the
public health inspector engaged in these specialist inspections under the Housing Acts to be transferred to
other duties.
A summary of the work of the inspectorate in connection with multi-occupied houses and tenement
dwellings is given in Table 12, page 66.
(b) Means of Escape in case of Fire
The Director of Architecture and Planning served 5 (30) notices under Section 16 of the Housing Act
1961 and 12 (26) were complied with during the year. In respect of a further 109 (160) premises proper
and adequate means of escape were provided as a result of informal action taken by the Director.
Grants, Subsidies and Loans
The following summary indicates the number of applications referred to the Health Department for
inspection and comment during the year:—
No. of Dwellings
Discretionary Grants
(a) Works of improvement 147 (222)
(b) Conversions 1,272 (775)
Standard Grants 39 (39)
Subsidies to Housing Associations for the improvement and conversion of
properties 123 (221)
Loans for the acquisition and/or improvement of premises in Westminster 77 (60)
A summary of visits is given in Table 11, page 65.
Qualification Certificates
At the end of the year 251 (628) applications for qualification certificates had been received. Details
appear in Table 14 page 66.
A qualification certificate certifies that a dwelling satisfies the qualifying conditions laid down in the
Housing Finance Act 1972. The "qualifying conditions" are that the dwelling is provided with all the
standard amenities (bath, wash-hand basin, sink, hot water supply to these, and water closet) for the
exclusive use of its occupants, is in good repair, having regard to its age, character and locality and
disregarding internal decorative repair, and is in all other respects fit for human habitation.
If a dwelling is improved to reach these standards (or if it already satisfies such conditions) the controlled
tenancy can be converted to a regulated tenancy.
Overcrowding
(1) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year 79 (93)
(2) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 26 (35)