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During the year 1,133 applicants on the housing list were rehoused.
At the end of the year the number of applicants on the waiting list was 6,246
which includes new applicants of less than 12 months' standing.
Forty-six applicants were awarded priority for rehousing on the grounds of
ill-health or disablement.
I am grateful to the Housing Manager for supplying the above information.
Overcrowding
The statutory standard for overcrowding, based on the number of persons
related to the size and number of living rooms, is laid down in the Housing Act, 1957.
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A notice may be withdrawn if the number of occupants is reduced to a point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 these are gradually being brought up to
standard, although it has not been possible to make house-to-house inspections.
Four hundred and fifty-three visits were made by the public health inspectors
to houses in multiple occupation and action was taken to enforce the standards in
sixteen properties, involving 49 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.
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