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104
It is in some of these premises that the most squalid living
conditions in the Borough are to be found, although very few
of them are structurally unfit for habitation.
The Council has adopted standards for houses let in multioccupation
and a start has been made in surveying, recording and
requesting owners to effect improvements, to provide a better
standard of facilities and to attend to possible fire hazards.
The Housing Act, 1969, is likely to change the direction of
future housing work. Although a four year programme of slum
clearance for the years 1970-1973 was prepared, it contained only
192 properties and although other properties progress into this
category, as the years pass, it cannot be said that there is a real
slum clearance problem in Bromley. The new Act, in the part
dealing with General Improvement Areas, envisages the declaration
for special attention of suitable parts of the district in which
houses are structurally sound but lack important amenities. A
concerted effort will have to be made not only to bring individual
houses up to the standard but to improve the immediate environment.
It is hoped not only to make the areas more desirable to
those who live there but to save properties falling into the "slum
clearance" category.
By and large, this work is a continuation of that carried out
by the Inspectorate in the Compulsory Improvement Area established
at Bromley Common.
The Housing Act, 1969, also provided for the issue of Qualification
Certificates, in respect of certain controlled tenancies, whereby
"fair rents" will be fixed and charged providing the houses
possess the standard amenities and are in go0d state of repair.
A large number of applications for these Certificates were
received in the latter part of the year and more are expected. The
resulting inspections and elaborate documentation threw a considerable
burden on the Department. Nevertheless, a volume of useful
housing work was accomplished.
The important part played by the Department in the control of
housing conditions generally is indicated by the pages of the report
which are devoted to the subject in its many facets.
Smoke Control
A "m0dern miracle" is the term used to describe the extraordinary
improvement in atmospheric conditions in London since
the commencement of the Clean Air programme. Although financial
stringency resulted in no new Smoke Control Orders being
made in the Borough for 1969, the work of survey has continued.
Three further areas will be created in 1970 and it is hoped that
all parts of Bromley will be brought under control by 1977.