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Improvement of Houses
The Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, provides, 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 Borough Treasurer, in co-operation with the Borough Valuer, deals with
applications for advances for house purchase and I understand from him that 111
applications were approved, the sum advanced amounting to £220,960. The Public
Health Department supplies the Borough Valuer with any known history of a property
which may assist him in his valuation; this was done in 159 cases.
An owner may seek an advance or grant towards the cost of substantial alterations
which may involve structural work but the power to make such advances or grants is
exercised at the discretion of the local authority.
The House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, designed to supplement the previous
grant provisions, enables local authorities to make advances for house purchase up to
the full value of the property. It also places a duty on them to make standard grants
towards the cost of the provision of a fixed bath or shower in a bathroom, a wash-hand
basin, a hot water supply, a W.C. and satisfactory facilities for storing food where
these are not provided.
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor approves applications for Discretionary and
Standard Improvement Grants and I understand from him that 33 applications were
received all of which were granted. Of these, only 10 were in respect of tenanted
houses.
The Housing Act, 1964, Part III is aimed at making grants more attractive and
thus to encourage more owners to improve their dwellings. There is included a provision
for a reduction from ten years to three years in the period during which rent
or other conditions attach to a house improved with grant.
Improvement Areas
Part II of the Act provides another new device enabling the local authority to make
improvement areas. The Act provides, inter alia, that "If a local authority are
satisfied that any area in their district contains dwellings lacking one or more of the
standard amenities and that, of the dwellings in that area which are so lacking, at least
one half—
(a) are so constructed that it is practicable to improve them to the full standard,
and
(b) will, after they have been improved to the full standard be in such condition
as to be fit for human habitation, and will be likely, subject to normal maintenance,
to remain in that condition and available for use as dwellings for a
period of not less than fifteen years,
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