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So far as the preservation and maintenance of houses is concerned the Act
has not met with any conspicuous success in Poplar. Many owners appear to think
that the procedure for claiming the increased rent is unduly complicated and there
have been fewer applications for certificates of disrepair than was anticipated.
A slum clearance programme was agreed with the London County Council following
the survey which was carried out in 1949 and further proposals for the next five
year programme had been requested by the County Council prior to the passing of
the Housing Repairs and Rents Act 1954. Towards the end of 1954 the survey was
extended to cover all those houses which were suitable for immediate representation.
Although it is usual to talk of "slums" and "slum clearance" the word "slum" does
not appear in any of the housing legislation and the question to be answered
concerning any unfit house is whether it can or cannot be made fit at "reasonable
cost" together with consideration of the arrangement of the houses and streets.
"Reasonable cost" is not defined and what may be "reasonable" for a house where
the owner has vacant possession may very easily be entirely uneconomic for a house
which is subject to a controlled tenancy.
On the usually accepted standards there are comparatively few "slums" in
Poplar but very many of the houses fall far short of a desirable standard. Apart
from the houses and flats which have been built by the Borough Council or the
County Council the great majority of houses in the Borough are upwards of 70 years
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