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provided with adequate facilities an Order was made limiting the occupants to a
number appropriate to the services available.
One most important matter namely, the need of means of escape from fire, calls for
comment and special emphasis.
In the houses inspected there had been an almost total neglect to carry out work
to provide means of escape from fire, regardless of the number of persons at risk. The
hazard from fire in older type properties occupied by several families is much increased
by the multiplicity of means of cooking, space heating, and the sometimes inexpert
additions to electrical circuits. Much can be done to limit the spread of fire by making
doors and partitions fire resisting and to check the spread of flame and smoke by
fire stops and smoke screens. The Code of Practice of the Greater London Fire
Brigade for means of escape in the case of fire at houses in multiple occupation is
applied, and 55 houses have been modified to such standards. Leaflets printed both in
English and a number of foreign languages are distributed when necessary drawing
attention to the added risk of fire when paraffin heaters are used and when supplies of
paraffin are stored inside a house.
Clearance Areas
During the year Orders were confirmed by the Minister of-Housing and Local
Government, each without modification, in respect of the three clearance areas which had
been represented to the Council under Part III of the Housing Act 1957 during 1967.
Rehousing of the tenants was completed in respect of the area at East Finchley (ten
houses) and that at Lodge Lane, North Finchley (four houses), but was still outstanding
in respect of The Burroughs, Hendon (six houses).
Individual Unfit Houses
A total of twenty-seven dwellings were reported during the year as being unfit
for human habitation and incapable of repair at reasonable cost. In three cases the
making of Demolition Orders was appropriate but in the remaining twenty-four
instances it was necessary to make Closing Orders, as the dwellings were not capable
of demolition in isolation.
In consequence of this action, together with that which had been commenced in
previous years, sixteen unfit houses were demolished and forty-three dwellings were
made the subject of Closing Orders. Thirty-two families comprising in all a total of
sixty-nine persons vacated unfit properties. In three instances the tenants found themselves
suitable alternative accommodation; in all other cases rehousing was undertaken
by the Council.
Five Closing Orders which had been made during previous years were determined.
In each case the property could be accepted as having a reasonable future life, the
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