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HOUSING AND SANITARY
CIRCUMSTANCES
The large majority of the dwelling-houses in the Borough are
now more than 50 years old and in the eastern half of the area a
considerable number of these were built during the 19th century.
Although age is of itself no criterion, most of this last group are of
the type of construction and show such deficiency of maintenance that
they are becoming worn out and incapable of being brought up to
modern standards except by major reconstruction and repair, which
would be, in general, uneconomic, having regard to the value of the
premises on completion.
Individual Unit Houses
Groups of this type of house are concentrated in areas where
redevelopment is either in progress or is proposed under the Housing
Acts within the not-too-distant future. As a preliminary to this
programme the Council are acquiring by negotiation, and voluntarily
closing houses in the areas concerned. There are also in areas
where overall redevelopment is not at present envisaged, individual
houses which are found to have reached tha stage where closing or
demolition is necessary as they are unfit for human habitation. It
has sometimes happened that when this course has been taken the
freehold of the premises has changed hands and the new owner has
carried out what virtually amounts to rebuilding works and has thus
created accommodation which would otherwise have been lost.
Many houses previously owned for investment purposes and let
to tenants, have, during the last few years, become owner-occupied
or part-occupied and considerable effort and enterprise had been shown
by the new owners in the repair, redecoration and reinstatement of
the houses. Many of the serious structural faults, however, such
as settlement and rising dampness would require work beyond the
resources of the owners and in consequence they can extend for only
a short time the remaining useful life of such dwellings.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
Work has continued during the year on the problem of houses in
multiple occupation. Some of these are owner-part-occupied, whilst
others are investment properties occupied by a number of families
each paying rent to the owner. A third group consists of tenanted
houses where the official occupier has sub-let various parts of the
house to other families or persons. As a general rule each house
in multiple occupation requires many visits from the public health
inspector - there may be language difficulties to be overcome and in
some cases the occupiers of the various parts of the house can be
contacted only in the evenings or at weekends. Most of the houses
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