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Acquisition and Improvement of Houses
The Housing Acts 1958-1964, and amending Regulations provide, inter alia,
that a local authority may (a) make advances for the purpose of acquiring houses
and for altering, enlarging, repairing or improving houses; (b) make grants for the
provision of houses by the conversion of buildings and for the improvement of
dwellings.
The Town Clerk, in co-operation with the Borough Treasurer and the Borough
Valuer, deals with applications for advances for house purchase and I understand
from him that 537 applications were approved, the sum advanced amounting to
£1,712,797.
The Health Department supplies the Borough Valuer with any known history
of a property and any other information which may assist in the valuation. Where
claims of overcrowding are made in support of an application for mortgage these
claims are investigated by the department.
Owners of dwelling-houses may obtain a loan or grant from the local authority
towards the cost of works of alteration or improvement but such loans or grants
are at the discretion of the local authority.
The House Purchase and Housing Acts 1958 and 1959, designed to supplement
the previous grant provisions, enable local authorities to make advances for house
purchase up to the full value of the property. These Acts also place a duty on them
to make standard grants towards the cost of provision of a fixed bath or shower
in a bathroom, a wash hand basin, a hot water supply, a water closet and satisfactory
facilities for storing food where these are not provided in houses which have a
minimum life of 15 years.
The Council is prepared to give Standard and Discretionary grants for the
improvement of properties. During 1966, 160 applications for grants were received,
and 158 grants (46 discretionary, 112 standard) were completed. Although the
1964 Act provides for a reduced standard of amenity, the Council is not prepared
to agree to a reduced standard and all of these houses were improved to the full
standard.
The Housing Act, 1964, gives local authorities powers for the declaration of
improvement areas. These areas must satisfy prescribed conditions regarding the
life of the properties and the lack of amenities in houses in the area.
During this year the Council made the London Borough of Enfield Improvement
Area No. 1 in the Edmonton Area.
Many of the properties are owner-occupied and every effort is being made to
persuade these owners to provide the standard amenities in their premises.
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