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HOUSING
Housing Acts
1. Number of houses which on inspection were considered to be unfit for human habitation:-
14
2. Number of houses in which defects were remedied in consequence of informal action by the
Local Authority or their Officers:-
5
3. Number of representations made to the Local Authority with a view to (a) the serving of
notices requiring the execution of works or (b) the making of demolition or closing orders:-
(a) 2
(b) 1
4. Number of notices served during the execution of works:-
NIL
5. Number of houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices:-
NIL
6. Number of demolition or closing orders made:-
NIL
7. Number of houses in respect of which an undertaking was accepted under subsection (4) of
section 16 of the Housing Act, 1957:-
1
8. Number of houses demolished:-
2
9. Number of inspections and reinspections of housing accommodation:-
55
During the year under review the Inspectorate have continued to carry out inspections of
private sector houses in the City. Inspections have been carried out of accommodation associated
with premises used for other purposes, such as caretakers' and managers' flats, as a matter of
routine surveillance of housing in the City. In all, 29 inspections were carried out, necessitating
21 re-inspections, of which only three primary visits arose out of complaints.
Individual Houses — Part II, Housing Act, 1957
In February of this year, as a result of a routine inspection, one house was found to be
unfit and not capable of repair at reasonable cost. As this was a property owned by the Corporation
and administered through the Planning and Communications Committee, the matter was
referred to the City Surveyor for appropriate action and it was agreed that rehousing of the
tenant be arranged and the demolition of the property secured. At the end of the year this had not
been effected, but it is hoped that the matter will be resolved in the near future.
One other house was found to be unfit and two others required repair. In each case remedial
works were carried out by the owners after appropriate representations by this Department. On
two occasions owners approached the Department with proposals for improving dwelling-houses
and advice was given in each case.
Clearance Area - Part III, Housing Act, 1957
Fleet Lane Clearance Area
Objections have been received to the decision of the Court of Common Council made during
1970 to declare 29, 30 and 31, Fleet Lane, a clearance area and to compulsorily purchase the
cleared land.
On 25th June, 1971, the Department of the Environment informed the Corporation of London
of the Minister's intention to hold a local Public Inquiry to hear these objections. The Inquiry
date was set for 1st September but subsequently it was cancelled in order that negotiations
might take place between the owners of the property and the Corporation. At the end of the year
under review these negotiations had not progressed. Meanwhile the condition of the premises
continues to deteriorate.
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