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19
Housing Act, 1961—Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Part II of this Act which came into operation on the 24th November, 1961, contains powers enabling
Local Authorities to secure a proper standard of management of houses in multiple occupation. The
standard is prescribed by regulations made by the Minister in Statutory Instrument No. 668 of 1962
which came into effect on 22nd May, 1962, and is amplified in Circular 16/62. The new powers fall
into four main groups :—
(i) An entirely new power to apply a Code of Management to individual houses in which proper
standards of management have not been observed.
(ii) Stronger powers to require the provision of additional facilities and amenities essential to
decent living conditions, and the provision of adequate means of escape from fire.
(iii) A new power for Local Authorities to carry out works themselves in default and recover the
cost.
(iv) A power, also new, to make a direction limiting the number of persons who may live in a
house, or part of a house, which is in multiple occupation.
The Minister emphasised that these powers are designed to deal primarily with the worst type of
multi-occupied house manifestly in need of repair where nothing less than strong action will be likely
to achieve results. At the same time the Minister placed reliance on Local Authorities to make quite
clear to the people concerned what it is that the regulations require to ensure the satisfactory management
of these houses and to give them ample opportunity to put matters right before resorting to
the new penalty provisions.
On the 25th October, 1962, the Council delegated their powers and duties under Part II of the
Housing Act, 1961, to the Housing Committee. A preliminary survey made by the Public Health
Department had indicated that approximately 1,229 premises in St. Marylebone would probably
fall into the category under review and by the end of the year 100 premises had been inspected in
detail to ascertain the type of deficiency to be anticipated. To meet the necessity for the Council
to indicate their requirements in respect of facilities to be provided in houses in multiple occupation
a Code of Practice was drawn up in the Department and adopted by the Council. It follows closely a
draft Code circulated to constituent authorities by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint
Committee and is intended to serve as a guide on the basis of which the Council can seek the cooperation
of the landlord concerned in the improvement of his property with a view to avoiding as
far as may be possible the necessity for compulsion.
Section 16 of the Act deeds with means of escape in case of fire and this aspect is being dealt with in
conjunction with the Borough Engineer's Department and in liaison with the London County Council.
By the end of the year, however, regulations regarding means of escape from fire had not been issued
and as it was felt that each house in multiple occupation should be dealt with as a whole and not
piecemeal the absence of these standards has in some measure halted progress.
A fuller account of the action now being taken under Part II of this Act will be made in the Annual
Report, 1963.