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60
The absence of a precise definition of what the Act describes as
a "fit" or "unfit" house renders classification by cursory examination
difficult. In determining for the purpose of the Housing Act
whether a house is unfit for habitation, regard should be had to the
extent to which by reason of disrepair or sanitary defects the house
falls short of accepted standards of design and construction as
controlled by relevant byelaws and regulations. "Sanitary
defects" include lack of air space or of ventilation, darkness,
dampness, absence of adequate and readily accessible water supply
or sanitary accommodation or other conveniences, and inadequate
paving or drainage of courts, yards or passages.
Owing to staff and time limitations it has not been possible to
give due consideration to all the factors laid down in the Housing
Act for the purpose of determining accurately the category in which
houses should be placed. It has been practicable to carry out only a
superficial examination of each area, and in consequence the
information obtained must necessarily be of an approximate and
provisional nature. To confirm the position would require a detailed
survey of each house, involving a considerable amount of technical
work and additional staff. It may be necessary in many cases, in
order to assess the controversial "reasonable expense" factor
(referred to later in this Report), to prepare specifications and obtain
estimates of the cost of the works considered necessary to restore
properties to a proper standard of fitness.
Areas Surveyed.
The boundaries of each area were determined by Town Planning
and other considerations, and on Public Health grounds. It was
therefore inevitable that each area should contain a proportion of
good and of bad houses. For similar reasons it was not possible
to include within the boundaries of these areas all the Category A
houses in the Borough.
It is estimated that, in addition to the number of Category A
houses shown in Column 3 of the attached Appendix (page 69),
there are some 500 additional houses, situated outside the boundaries
of the areas under review, which could be placed in that category,
and there are many more whose type and condition justify their
being regarded as borderline cases as regards fitness for habitation.
Findings.
The results of the preliminary survey are tabulated separately
in the form of an Appendix. It will be noted that each of the 10 areas