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Preferential Housing on Health Grounds
Applications for preferential housing on health grounds investigated during the year
numbered 496. An 'urgent' assessment was granted in 79 cases and balancing points were awarded
in a further 109. Tenant transfer was supported in the case of 116 tenants of Council dwellings.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
At the end of the year some 1,100 houses were under surveillance, 253 being registered in
accordance with the registration scheme affecting four wards of the Borough.
Due to the mode of occupation and the use of paraffin heaters the fire risk in these
dwellings is high. During the year 142 premises were found to be deficient in the means of escape
in the case of fire and it was necessary to serve 134 notices to remedy the deficiencies.
Management Orders were made in respect of 35 premises. Of representations received from
owners of three premises, for the revocation of Management Orders one was not accepted as it was
considered that the house was likely to fall into disrepair, the remaining two orders were revoked.
Necessary works to remedy conditions caused by neglect of management were completed in 63 houses,
68 summonses were served for contraventions of the Management Regulations, fines amounting to
£330 being imposed.
Notices, in respect of overcrowding, under the provisions of Section 90 of the Housing Act,
1957, were served in 30 instances. Visits in the late evening and early morning are necessaryto
check that the notices are being complied with. Seven summonses were issued in respect of
contraventions, resulting in fines amounting to £62.
28 directions to prevent or reduce overcrowding were served under Section 19 of the Housing
Act, 1961. Summonses were issued in 5 instances for contravention of the directions, resulting in
fines amounting to £60.
Standard Grants and Improvements
In conjunction with officers of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department, the Housing
Inspector inspected 16 premises regarding which applications had been made to the Council for
standard or improvement grants.
New Housing
During the year 1,978 new permanent dwellings were completed in the borough: 906 by the
Borough Council, 1,024 by the Greater London Council and 48 by other persons. Details are given
on page 108 , some new dwellings completed this year being illustrated opposite this page.
At the end of the year units of accommodation owned by the Borough Council numbered 14,839
comprising 12,631 erected by the Council, 122 prefabricated bungalows and 2,086 properties acquired.
Dwellings in the. borough owned by the Greater London Council totalled 24,926,at the end of the
year. Local Authority owned dwellings now comprise 63% of the total dwellings in the Borough.
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