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by their being certified as dangerous structures by the District Surveyor.
It seemed practicable by using Section 3, to supplement and to support
the action of the District Surveyor in the hope that the occupiers' homes
could be preserved. The receipt of counter notices from the owners,
declaring their intention of closing, and the subsequent demolition of
the houses (an alternative method of complying with the District Surveyor's
order), showed that in Westminster the value of a cleared site
is vastly greater than that of any old working-class house on it. It
may be most welcome to the owner to take advantage of the counter
notice provided in Section 3. Generally speaking, it has not been found
that the operation of Section 3 has been very successful in endeavouring
to repair and preserve working-class dwellings.
During the past two years, 11 notices have been served under Section 3,
requiring repairs to be carried out; counter notices were served with
regard to 3 houses and closing orders became operative. Two of the
houses have been demolished and the other will be pulled down as soon
as arrangements to rebuild for business purposes are completed.
In one case the Council resisted a counter notice and the necessary
repairs were carried out.
Three other houses with regard to which Section 3 notices were served
were vacated and have since been demolished.
(b) As already mentioned, reconditioning of old properties is constantly
in progress under the provisions of the Public Health Act. Most
of the large tenement houses being of sound structure can be dealt with
satisfactorily by these means. Certain details may appropriately be
dealt with under the L.C.C. by-laws which apply to this type of house,
obligations as to cleansing, etc., being the duties of tenants and lodgers.
Certain of these by-laws relating to the provision of food stores, separate
w.c's, water supplies, etc., are suspended during the life of the Rent
Restriction Acts. It is important to note that when these suspended
provisions come into force the houses in question will no longer remain
working-class houses. Rents of rooms in many cases are already very
high, and if the owners are compelled to provide these amenities the
houses will pass out of the category of working-class houses in order to
fulfil the demand for small middle class flats—a demand far in excess of
the supply in such a central district.
The type of old decaying house chiefly found among the cottage
properties already referred to as entirely uneconomic to recondition
adequately admits of one method only. That is, clearance and rehousing
of the occupants. This important question is under consideration by
committees of the City Council.