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Housing
Clearance Areas. During the year, four Clearance Areas involving 301
houses were declared by the Borough Council.
Closing Orders. Two appeals lodged against Closing Orders made by the
Council in respect of dwelling-houses are still under consideration.
Overcrowding. Alleged overcrowding was investigated in 59 instances,
42 being confirmed and added to the Register.
Twenty-eight overcrowded families were rehoused by the Greater London
Council and 18 by this Council, the register of overcrowded premises being
reduced, during the year, from 263 to 259 families.
Underground Rooms. There are approximately 2,000 underground rooms in
the Borough used for living or sleeping purposes, of which approximately 1,500
are unfit. During the year, 15 such rooms were closed.
Town and Country Planning(Housing Accommodation)Direction 1952. Under
this Order the Department is consulted by the Borough Architect and Planning
Officer before applications are determined for planning permission for development
involving change of user of premises from use as a dwelling.Investigations
of 11 such applications were carried out during the year.
Applications for Rehousing. At the end of the year, there were 7700
applications for rehousing on the Housing Officer's register. These Included
tenants of 820 Council dwellings who desired transfer to larger or smaller
accommodation.
Preferential Housing on Health Grounds. Applications for preferential
housing on health grounds investigated during the year, numbered 656. Of these
21 were granted an 'urgent' assessment and 605 were awarded balancing points
under the Council's Housing Points Scheme. Thirty cases were referred to the
Greater London Council.
Houses in Multiple Occupation. The routine procedures adopted by the
former Stepney Council for dealing with houses in multiple occupation were
extended to the Bethnal Green and Poplar areas, whereby Technical Assistants
investigate all houses considered likely to fall within the category of houses
in multiple occupation, and make appropriate surveys and submit reports with a
view to implementation of the Council's powers under the provisions of Part II
of the Housing Act 1961 and Regulations made thereunder. Management Orders
were made with respect to 22 premises following the service of 45 notices of
intention to make such orders.
Necessary works to remedy conditions caused by neglect of management were
completed in 76 houses, 70 summonses being issued for contraventions of the
Regulations.
53.