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HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Staff shortage has continued to restrict the work of this section of the Department, and the position was further
aggravated during the year by prolonged periods of sickness amongst some of the staff.
The problem arising when houses in multiple occupation were deprived of gas or electricity supplies, due to the
statutory undertakers withdrawing their services because of non-payment of accounts by owners, continued.
The legal complications are that there is no simple, effective and expeditious way of dealing with this matter. If
it could be proved that the manager of a house in multiple occupation had "unreasonably caused a supply of gas
or electricity to be withdrawn" then the power given to the Council under existing legislation is to prosecute for
an infringement of the regulations covering houses in multiple occupation. This process obviously takes several
weeks; and, in any case, would merely secure a penalty in the Court, and not necessarily obtain restoration of
the gas or electricity supply. A Control Order or Compulsory Purchase Order would not achieve a quicker
solution and may not be reasonable in all the circumstances. A Control Order, in particular, is a very complex
procedure involving many of the Council's departments and a Compulsory Purchase Order is, of course, subject
to the delays inherent in the procedure laid down.
However, these problems were somewhat relieved by the acquisition during the year of 3 calor gas operated hot
plates, with grills fitted, together with appropriate gas storage cylinders. This apparatus was in fact required by
the Welfare Department, at the instigation of the Public Health Department, and it has been arranged that its
loan is controlled by the Public Health Inspectorate.
The use of this apparatus was kept to a minimum by the persistence and tenacity of the Public Health Inspectors
in persuading the owners to take the necessary action, generally by paying outstanding accounts, sometimes with
the addition of a deposit, in order to restore supplies. However, it has been invaluable to have the use of this form
of emergency cooking available to assist in the very difficult situation that does arise when a family no longer has
facility for the cooking of food. This does not, of course, solve the problem of either space heating or of artificial
lighting when these are affected by the withdrawal of supplies; so, during the year, consideration was given as to
what other effective action could be taken in these situations.
The result was the inclusion in the Haringey Corporation Bill, to be laid before Parliament, of a clause to empower
the Council to pay the outstanding account in cases of this type and so secure the speedy reinstatement of
supplies. It was intended that the amount expended would then be recoverable from the owner or person
letting the premises and become a charge upon the property until this had been done. If and when this bill
becomes law, it will form an extremely useful addition to the legislation concerning houses in multiple
occupation in Haringey, which, it is believed, would be the first local authority to obtain such powers.
Consideration was also given during the year to the question of a scheme of registration for houses in multiple
occupation under the amended powers created by the Housing Act 1969. The Social Services Committee,
however, were satisfied that the Public Health Inspectors were sufficiently informed as to the amount of, and
location of, multiple occupation in the Borough without introducing a registration scheme, and were of the
opinion that there would be no point in the Council deciding to introduce a registration scheme at the present.
It is considered that advice received from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government some time ago, when
schemes of registration of houses in multiple occupation were being considered, is very pertinent. "There is no
point in devoting time to a comprehensive scheme unless the information it reveals can be quickly followed up
by inspection and remedial action when necessary." This is certainly considered essential with a scheme of this
nature and, for the scheme to be effective, a considerably increased staff of widely experienced Public Health
Inspectors, expressly to deal with multiple occupation, would be required.
Overcrowding
The following is a summary of the statutory provisions with regard to overcrowding: —
1. Overcrowding is illegal
The Housing Act 1957 provides that it is an offence for any occupier of a dwelling-house or the landlord
thereof to cause or permit the house to be over-crowded.
2. Definitions
(a) "DWELLING-HOUSE" means "any premises used as a separate dwelling".
(b) "LANDLORD" means "the immediate landlord of an occupier'"
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