View report page

34
HOUSING
Housing Act, 1957—Closing Orders
During the year three Closing Orders were made under Section
17 of the Housing Act, 1957, in respect of dwelling houses and
two Orders were made under Section 18 of the Act in respect of
parts of dwelling houses.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
House-to-house inspections were commenced in the Balham
area during the year, but owing to the shortage of staff it was not
found practicable to continue on these lines until sufficient technical
staff are available.
A considerable amount of work was carried out in connection
with individual houses in multiple occupation that came to the
notice of the Department through the district inspectors, house
purchase schemes and other sources.
It is pleasing to note that an increasing number of owners and
agents who purchase properties to let in this manner, have requested
advice as to the standards required so that the necessary
work may be completed before letting the premises. However,
there is always a number of owners who for some reason either
cannot or will not provide the necessary facilities for their tenants,
and in this respect 11 direction orders were made during the year
limiting the number of persons or families that can properly
occupy the premises, bearing in mind the facilities available in the
premises.
Very few squalid conditions were found, the main deficiency
being the absence of separate facilities, e.g. sink with water supply,
means of cooking, etc., within each separate letting. Many houses
which were inspected lacked only proper precautions for means
of escape in case of fire, and in most cases the necessary work was
carried out by the owners concerned without any undue pressure
from the Health Department.
Inspections carried out during the year were as follows:—
Number of primary visits 584
Number of premises fully inspected 242
Number of revisits 1,309
Control of Movable Dwellings
Control over the use of land in London to accommodate caravans
and movable dwellings was formerly exercised under the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1959, but, on the