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(2) 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 7
(2) Number of families dwelling therein 11
(3) Number of persons dwelling therein 38
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the
year 5
(c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the
year 6
(2) Number of persons concerned in such cases 25
(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 185
By other persons 79
The Chief Sanitary Inspector reports that "The work carried
out during the year in respect of the sanitary condition of dwelling
houses has followed the pattern of recent post-war years and,
although there has been a drop in the total number of houses
made fit, the number of inspections has been well maintained.
The policy of dealing only with the more urgent items of
disrepair under the provisions of the Public Health Act has been
continued with moderate success.
A more positive attitude towards house repair, as envisaged
by the Housing Act, 1936, must be preceded by amendment of the
law dealing with rent control, and there are indications that this
problem will be tackled in the near future.
An example of the difficulties being experienced in this connection
is illustrated by the following case.
During the year, consideration was given by the Council to
the condition of an eight-roomed house reported upon as unfit and
not capable at a reasonable expense of being made fit. It was
estimated that it would cost approximately £750 to carry out the
minimum repairs necessary, and the value of the property after
these repairs had been completed would be approximately £375,
based on the existing rent and on a 12| years' purchase.
In the circumstances, the owner was unwilling to incur any
expenditure and eventually the property was sold to the tenant for
a small sum on the understanding that he would carry out the
repairs."
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