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Powers are provided in the Housing Act, 1964, for local authorities to declare
suitable areas as Improvement Areas. In such areas the Council may require the
owners of tenanted properties to provide the five standard amenities and the
opportunity can be taken to improve the general environment in the area. It is
hoped that this will encourage all householders in the area to make other improvements
to their properties resulting in a general improvement of the area. The
properties in the areas selected are usually structurally sound houses which lack one
or more of the standard amenities and which have a minimum life of fifteen years,
but usually considerably longer.
Many of the houses in Improvement Areas are owner occupied but no provision
is made in the Act for enforcing the improvement of such properties. Every effort
is made to persuade those owners who have not already provided a bathroom to do
so. Elderly tenants are often reluctant to suffer the inconvenience and disturbance
involved in installing a bathroom but the advantages of an inside water closet and
a bathroom with hot water are very important to the elderly. Where they are not
willing to have the work carried out a Suspended Notice is served. Whatever the
circumstances considerable time has to be spent discussing the proposals with householders,
public relations being a very important part of this work. Nevertheless,
although the procedures are very time consuming, the results can give considerable
satisfaction to all concerned.
During the year the Council made the London Borough of Enfield Improvement
Areas Nos. 3, 4 and 1A (No. 1A was an extension of area No. 1). In these areas
the following action was taken.
Number of Improvement Notices served — Preliminary 161
Suspended 85
Immediate 51
Final 6
A Preliminary Notice is served on the person having control of the dwelling,
specifying the works which in the opinion of the local authority are required for
the dwelling to be improved to the full standard with an estimate of the cost of
carrying out those works; and stating the date and place at which the future use
of the dwelling, the local authority's proposals, and the views and interests of the
tenant, and any other matters, may be discussed.
A Suspended Improvement Notice is served in cases where a tenant withholds
his consent to the improvement works being carried out. This Notice is valid for
five years from the date of the Order or until a change of tenancy.
An Immediate Improvement Notice is served where the tenant has given his
consent to the necessary works, and gives the owner of the property a period of
twelve months within which to do the works.
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