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71
HOUSING
During the latter part of 1954 and the early part of this
ear some 4,000 of the older houses in the Borough were surveyed
n order to arrive at an estimate of the number of houses conidered
to be unfit for habitation and suitable for inclusion in
he Council's "slum" clearance programme.
705 such houses were included in a return approved by the
Council and forwarded to the Ministry of Housing and Local Govern-
ment. Pour areas of the borough were listed for redevelopment
within the first five years and these it was estimated would
include 133 unfit houses. Action in regard to the first of these
four areas, Ely Road and Holmesdale Road, is proceeding.
During the year 2,163 houses were rendered fit following the
service of notices requiring repairs. In four cases owners
appealed to the County Court against the service of such notices
but in all cases the appeals were dismissed with costs.
Nine whole houses and five parts of houses were made the
subject of Closing Orders during the year as being unfit for
habitation. An appeal by the owner against a Closing Order in
one case was unsuccessful.
The number of applications for certificates of disrepair for
the whole of 1955 was 152 of which 123 were granted. The total
number of Certificates of Disrepair granted to tenants since the
commencement of the Act, 31st August, 1954 to the 31st December,
1955 was 295.
West Croydon Men's Hostel
This is situated at Pitlake and is available for use by
"nightly lodgers". It has 104 cubicle beds, four of which are
reserved for staff. The charge is 2s. per night or 13s. per
week, and 2s. per night or 8s. per week for Old Age Pensioners.
Cooking facilities are provided. Hot baths may be taken any time
after 9 a.m. Clothes may be washed and dried in the wash-house
provided. The average number of nightly lettings during the
year was 91, and the number accommodated during the year 33, 171.
The receipts during the year were £2,520 and the expenditure
£4,355.
Houses - Sanitary Certificates
House drains and sanitary fittings are tested and examined on
request, at a fee, During the year 16 such requests were made.