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Under the Scheme landlords who wish to increase the number of occupants must
obtain permission from the Council who can ask for facilities to be provided.
Where it is not possible to provide facilities, a Direction under Section 19,
Housing Act 1961, is served on the landlord, but again many landlords are deliberately
ignoring the Direction and are overcrowding their properties Although they are
prosecuted the excess number of occupants cannot be ejected.
At the end of the year 1,151 houses were under surveillance.
During the year 48 premises were found to be deficient in means of escape in the
case of fire, and it was necessary to serve notices to remedy the deficiences.
Management Orders were made in respect of 31 premises and informal notices to
remedy conditions caused by neglect of management were served with regard to 101
houses In 53 cases the conditions were rectified. Summonses served forcontraventions
of the Management Regulations numbered 108, fines amounting to £646 beingimposed-
Overcrowding
Overcrowding by immigrant landlords appears to be on the increase. Immigrant
males arrive in this country without their families, and having found accommodation
which in most cases consists of one or two rooms- arrange for their families to join
them and thus overcrowding occurs.
Notices in respect of overcrowding under the provisions of Section 90 of the
Housing Act 1957. were served in 38 instances Visits in the late evening continue
to be made to check that the notices are being complied with, 18 summonses were
issued in respect of contraventions, resulting in fines amounting to £410
Directions to prevent or reduce overcrowding were served in 42 instances under
Section 19 of the Housing Act 1961 Summonses numbering 24 were issued forcontravention
of the Directions, resulting in fines amounting to £775 being imposed
Owing to the constant change of management of houses in multiple occupation,
notices frequently have to be re-served thus causing a prolonged delay in getting
repairs and fire precautions work carried out and overcrowding abated.
Lorry Drivers' Establishments
A number of lorry drivers' establishments have opened during the past year,
but there were no applications for registration. In one establishment which is a
public house. 28 drivers were being accommodated without any faci1ities being provided.
Notices have been served on the owners of all premises to provide the necessary
facilities.
General
Contraventions under the Housing Acts are rising steeply and more prosecutions
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