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IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSES
During the first half of the year 210 houses in the Wightman
Road and 116 houses in the Uplands Road area were inspected to
ascertain their suitability for improvement with the aid of standard
and discretionary improvement grants. It was found that whilst a
number of houses could be provided with basic amenities with the aid
of standard grants, many would require major structural work in order
to benefit from discretionary grants and a number would need a reduction
in the number of families occupying the dwellings. The
majority of the houses most suitable for improvement were in Uplands
Road.
Action was taken following the receipt of these reports, to
publicise the methods of obtaining grants. The information obtained
from the survey will be of value in future consideration of policy
regarding improvement areas.
HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Since before the 1961 Act the work of inspecting houses in
multiple occupation has been progressing and during this last year
the Council authorised the appointment of additional public health
inspectors to increase the rate of inspection. Having dealt with
those concerning which complaints or information is received in the
department, it has now been possible to commence the house-to-house
inspection of houses in multiple occupation in the Finsbury Park and
Stroud Green areas of the Borough. The concentration of this type
of premises is such that within many roads every house is found to
be occupied by more than one family. The standard amenities as
prescribed by the Council under Section 15 of the Housing Act, 1961
are required to be provided by the person having control of the premises
and in certain cases the Council has carried out necessary work in
default, either by direct labour or by instructing a suitable builder.
The Housing Act, 1964 was welcomed for its extension of the
provisions of the 1961 Act, in particular for the introduction of
the penalty clause for failure to carry out works to comply with a
notice under Section 15 of the 1961 Act. Builders are sometimes
reluctant to undertake work in houses in multiple occupation as
working conditions within these houses are not attractive and building
operatives prefer to work in houses where the occupation is not so
concentrated.
Registration
At the end of the year the Council approved a scheme of registration
of houses in multiple occupation in the Finsbury Park and
Stroud Green areas of the Borough. The scheme was submitted to the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government for confirmation.
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