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Rehousing Enquiries.
Some 600 (900) communications, were received during the year from the Borough Director of Housing, the CountyDivisional
Medical Officer, the County Director of Housing and Valuer, and from other authorities, requesting information
on the housing conditions of persons applying for rehousing on grounds of overcrowding, insanitary conditions,
and ill-health. Such information enables the enquirer to assess the degree of priority to be given to the applicants
concerned. In each case a visit was made by the Sanitary Inspector and a report furnished.
New accommodation.
During the year 22 fiats were completed at Taunton House, 16 at Philip Court, and 10 at Portnall House. The
following is a list of Council-owned new accommodation:—
Pre-war No. of flats
Brindley House 8
Dudley House 50
Artesian House 8
Post-war
Fleming Court 48
Queen's Park Court 96
John Aird Court 115
Lancefield Court 12
Philip Court 26
Post-war (cont.) No. of flats
Leamington House 12
Hallfield—
Caernarvon House 80
Clovelly House 22
Bridgewater House 22
Tenby House 22
Worcester House 22
Exeter House 80
Taunton House 22
Gilbert Sheldon House 40
Portnall House 10
Fumigation.
Associated Fumigators Limited under an agreement with the Council removed and treated the furniture and
effects of 18 (57) families with hydrogen cyanide gas during the year. The cost of the work was £147 (£391 10s. 0d.).
The charge for this work is £10 10s. per van per day. The charge made by the Council to persons whose furniture and
effects are dealt with under this agreement is £5.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT, 1954.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, came into operation on the 30th August, 1954. Part I requires the
local authority to submit to the Minister of Housing and Local Government within one year from the commencement
of the Act proposals for dealing in one way or another with the houses in their area which appear to them to be unfit
for human habitation and liable to demolition. The proposals are to be submitted in such form as the Minister may
require. At the end of the year steady progress had been made with the preliminary work. Areas have been mapped
out and it is hoped in the near future to submit details to the London County Council for approval.
Part II of the Act enables increased rents to be charged subject to the premises being of a certain standard of
fitness. If the rent of a property is increased and the fitness of the premises is below the standard, a certificate of
disrepair can be issued which specifies the defects found. The increased rent is not then applicable until the certificate
is revoked i.e. the defects are remedied. The following table gives particulars of these certificates.
The figures given below relate to the period 30th August 1954 (the date of commencement of the Act) to 31st
March, 1955, as requested by the Minister of Housing and Local Government.
Dwelling houses which have been the Dwelling houses which have been the
subject of a notice under Part II of subject of a notice under the Rent
the Housing Repairs and Rents and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions)
Act 1954 Act 1920
No. of applications for certificates 95 6
No. granted 71 5
No. refused 24 1
No. of applications for revocations
of certificates 13 —
No. granted 11 —
No. refused 2 —