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1930
13
so bad as to justify clearance. The general conditions in an
Improvement Area are tho.se which we associate with a slum area,
but some or even the great majority of the houses are not in such
state as to make them unfit for human habitation. But the defining
of an Improvement Area corresponds largely with that of a
Clearance Area, except that the reference is to housing conditions
generally in the Improvement Area, and not, as in the Clearance
Area, to all the. houses in the area.
The Act sets out 3 ways in which the Area may be improved,
(a) Demolition or repair of houses unfit for human habitation, (b)
Purchase of land in the area for the improvement of the site and
(c) The prevention of overcrowding.
For the prevention of overcrowding a model series of Byelaws
has been issued by the Ministry of Health. These are almost
identical with those which were made by many Local Authorities
in respect of houses let-in-lodgings, but there is one great
difference. The Bye-laws which are now issued can come into
force at once, whereas the most important of the Bye-laws for
houses let-in-lodgings do not come into force until six months
after the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1920 and
1923 (other than Part II. of the last mentioned Act) or any reenactment
thereof, with or without modifications relating to
dwelling houses, shall have ceased to be in force.
It would undoubtedly be an advantage in some instances to
possess the powers which the Bye-laws for Improvement Areas
confer upon local authorities. But the Steyne does not come
under the category of an Improvement Area. Upon the whole
the conditions in the Steyne are satisfactory. We certainly have
less complaints of overcrowding in this area than we have in
other parts of the district.
Individual Insanitary Houses.
The second part of the Act deals with the repair or demolition
of insanitary houses„ and replaces a number of sections of the
Act of 1925, dealing with the repair, closing and demolition of
unfit houses. The proceeding has been modified. One of the
difficulties which hindered local authorities from dealing with
houses which are so unsatisfactory that they ought to be closed
was the hardship which would be inflicted upon the tenants of
these houses. Most of these houses were "controlled," and if
the landlord wished to close a controlled house, he would have to
find alternative accommodation for the tenant, and the local
authorities were loth to represent a house as unfit. Under the
new Act, a grant is provided based on the number of inmates of
the demolished house to assist the local authoritv in providing
the other accommodation. The Rent Restriction Act's are not to
operate where possession of a house is required for the purpose
of a demolition order which has been ordered.