View report page

48
On housing work generally, Mr. Brittain, the group housing
inspector states:
"An important feature of the year was the passing of the Housing
Act 1961 which came into force in November and gives much wider
powers than existed previously for dealing with houses in multiple
occupation. Its provisions include powers to apply a code of management
(specified in regulations) to ensure proper maintenance of such
houses found to be in an unsatisfactory state, and to require additional
amenities where necessary including personal washing facilities.
The Act also amended the House Purchase and Housing Act 1959
so that, where improvements are made with the aid of a standard grant,
the water closet must now wherever practicable be internal. This
brings the two forms of grant into line with regard to this amenity.
The interest in discretionary grants declined somewhat compared
with 1960, especially during the last quarter of the year while, on the
other hand, there was a small increase in the number of applications
for standard grants. The latter form of grant enables the owner of a
house which has some of the necessary amenities to obtain assistance in
providing the remainder however small the cost, whereas the discretionary
grant requires that the work shall cost at least £100. Both forms of
grant require that any repairs that are necessary to make the house fit
shall be carried out, the requirements being more stringent in the case of
discretionary grants. The majority of applications come from owneroccupiers,
but now that the permissible rent increase for improvements
has been raised from 8% to 12½%, more owners of tenanted property
may be encouraged to take advantage of the scheme.
Although it was necessary to make demolition or closing orders on
a number of properties, on the credit side 13 houses or parts of houses,
subject to orders issued between 1953 and 1961, were made fit, so recovering
useful units of accommodation.”