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99
Reconditioning of Unfit Dwellings.
The Housing Act, 1935 provides that before a demolition or closing
order may be made, an owner shall be given an opportunity of submitting
an offer with respect to the carrying out of works to render the premises
fit for habitation, or as to the future user of the house or part thereof
The Act further provides that a closing order shall be determined if
the part of the building to which it relates has been rendered fit for human
habitation.
Many owners consider it sound policy to recondition basements even
at considerable cost rather than allow the rooms to remain empty with
the consequent risk of deterioration to the remainder of the house. In
these circumstances, specifications of proposed works are forwarded by
the owners and submitted to the Housing Committee for consideration.
Before these are submitted in final form it is invariably necessary for
meetings at the premises to be arranged between architects and builders
and the Housing Inspector to discuss various points arising. In other
ways the officers of the Council offer every assistance possible by way of
advice in the preparation of satisfactory specifications. No serious
differences of opinion have arisen between owners and inspectors of the
department, and the advice offered appears to have been generally
appreciated. Similar assistance is given in cases where owners indicate
their desire to recondition houses or parts of houses voluntarily. Thus it
is that the role of the sanitary inspector has nowadays become more
that of a friendly adviser than one whose duty it is mainly to point out
defects.
Constant supervision is exercised by the sanitary inspectors from the
beginning of the work until its completion ; unexpected difficulties which
may arise during the progress of the work are thus dealt with without
delay. The average time required to recondition a basement of two or
three rooms completely is from six to eight weeks.
The broad principles to be considered in reconditioning basements are
briefly : the eradication of all dampness; the provision of oversite concrete
and adequate ventilation under the floors; the enlargement of
windows to obtain the maximum access to light to all the rooms, passages,
etc.; the provision of extra glazed doors and windows internally to
ensure not only access to light but good circulation of air throughout the
basement; the modernization of sanitary accommodation; the provision
of such amenities as food stores, good sinks, baths, facilities for the supply
of hot water and the general repair and replacement of defective woodwork,
(8342) G 2