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Thinking in terms of the position say five or six years ahead there is the possibility that there
may be many areas of houses considered to be unfit but which are sound enough structurally to merit
treatment by other methods than clearance.
The question is therefore posed — To repair and modernise now or to allow to stagnate and decay?
Inorderto limit the future need for continuing clearance, works of restoration and modernisation should
start at the lowest level of structurally sound properties, and fitness of houses worked up from that
level rather than down to it.

A Closing Order made on the following house in 1966, was determined during the year:-
32 Daleview Road, N.15.
Purchase in Advance of Council's Requirements
Over 100 detailed examinations of houses were made at the request of the Chief Valuation Officer
for informal classification of houses, included in the Council's provisional clearance programme, which
were offered to the Council in advance of requirements.
Uplands Road Improvement Area
In the report for 1966 it was stated that the Council had acquired a house in the area with a view
toconverting it into two fully self contained flats and having it open for public inspection. By the end
of that year arrangements were well advanced, and during February, 1967 the house was open to viewing
for a fortnight. One of the flats had been furnished by a local business house and both flats were
attractively decorated. The house was open each day from 9 till 5 and from 9 till 8 on Saturdays and
Thursdays. Good publicity was given in the local press and in The Haringey Review. A total of 650
persons visited the house. In addition 2 senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government visited the house and discussed with the officer on duty the experience which the Council
had acquired in using the powers under the Housing Act 1964 to secure the compulsory improvement of
houses. It was felt that in view of the wide interest shown, the Council were well justified improviding
this demonstration house.
Asadirectresultof this show house 3owners in the road approached the Department for assistance
in improving their dwellings. This wasgiven and in each casedrawings were prepared by the Department.
Oneowner subsequently with drew butan other had completed his job by July the same year by providing
a bath, basin and internal water closet where none existed before. The third owner was all set to
commence work in the New Year.
Two further dwellings in the road were also improved during the year to the full standard by the
provision of hot water and satisfactory facilities for storing food.
This area was declared in July, 1965, and the Housing Act, 1964 requires the Council to complete
the service of all formal notices within 2 years of the declaration of the area.
By July, 1967 there had been served and still in operation 13 suspended notices and one immediate
notice; and one undertaking had been accepted. The suspended notices have the effect of putting the
improvement of a dwelling in abeyance for five years or until such time as there is a change in occupation
or the tenant subsequently expresses a wish to have his dwelling improved. Although the Act lays
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