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It was found necessary to serve notices for the abatement of statutory overcrowding
in only one instance.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
The local authority is empowered by the Housing Acts, 1957 and 1961, to
serve a notice on a person having control of a house in multiple occupation where,
in its opinion, the house is defective with respect to natural and artificial lighting,
ventilation, water supply, personal washing facilities, drainage and sanitary conveniences,
facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food, and for the
disposal of waste water, etc. The provision of proper means of escape from fire
may be required where necessary.
The number of persons who may occupy a house may be stipulated.
A notice may be withdrawn if the number of occupants is reduced to a point
where the existing facilities are adequate.
The council have adopted standards of overcrowding and amenities in dwelling
houses to be observed in the borough.
Although an appreciable number of dwelling houses in the borough are
occupied by two or more families, the number of over-occupied properties is small.
Many of the properties occupied by several families are believed to lack the full
Standard of Amenities adopted by the council but, due to staff shortages, it has
not been possible to make house-to-house inspections to enforce uniform standards.
Two hundred and thirty visits were made by the public health inspectors to
houses in multiple occupation and action was taken to enforce the standards in
eight properties, involving 35 families.
Part IV of the Housing Act, 1964, gave considerable additional powers to local
authorities, including the making of Management Orders where the council is
satisfied that proper standards of management are not being observed. During the
year one prosecution relating to a fire hazard was taken under Section 16 of the
Act which resulted in a fine of £5 with £5 costs.
Slum Clearance and Individual Unfit Houses
Twelve clearance areas comprising 99 dwelling houses were reported to the
council as unfit for human habitation. These areas formed part of larger areas of
proposed redevelopment included in the council's Clearance and Redevelopment
Programme and were dealt with by Compulsory Purchase Orders.
Eleven Orders comprising 75 properties represented as unfit were confirmed
by the Minister of Housing and Local Government.
The number of dwelling houses demolished in areas subject to Compulsory
91