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(4) Proceedings under Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936 :
(a) Number of separate tenements or underground
rooms in respect of which Closing Orders
were made Nil
(b) Number of separate tenements or underground
rooms in respect of which Closing Orders
were determined, the tenement or room having
been rendered fit Nil
4. Housing Act, 1936, Part IV—Overcrowding:—
(a) (1) Number of dwelling houses overcrowded at end of year 15
(2) Number of families dwelling therein 28
(3) Number of persons dwelling therein 97
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year 14
(c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 5
(2) Number of persons concerned in such cases 34
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling houses have
again become overcrowded after the Local Authority
has taken steps for the abatement of overcrowding Nil
Number of New Houses Erected during the Year:—
By the Local Authority 135
By other persons 144
There was a decrease on the preceding year in the number of houses
inspected for defects, with a corresponding decrease in the actual number
of inspections made for the purpose. On the other hand, the number of
houses found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation
was 91 more than in 1948. In all 358 houses were rendered fit in consequence
of action taken by the Department.
In one case, the Council accepted an undertaking from the owner
under Section 11 of the Housing Act, 1936, that a house which was considered
unfit for human habitation and incapable of being rendered so
fit at a reasonable expense, should not thereafter be used for human
habitation.
The shortage of building materials and labour which has hitherto
been an important factor in the delays experienced in obtaining house
repairs has now been largely resolved.
The economic factor is now the greatest obstacle facing Local
Authorities in their efforts to obtain a satisfactory standard of fitness in
working-class houses.
In the majority of cases, the pre-war controlled rents make it impossible
to require a comprehensive scheme of repair to sub-standard houses,
having regard to the restrictions imposed in the relevant statutes which
relate to " reasonable cost."
In view of these considerations the Department has continued to deal
with the more urgent items of disrepair, but in many cases, as a result of
informal action and co-operation with the owner, a considerable amount
of work has in fact been carried out in addition on individual properties.
The figures for overcrowding cannot of necessity give a very clear
picture of the housing position as it affects the District. Nothing short of
a comprehensive Housing Survey would reveal the exact state of the
housing problem today in relation to overcrowding, statutory or otherwise.
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