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HOUSING NUISANCE ABATEMENT AND SLUM CLEARANCE
A substantial part of Leyton's housing was built round about the end of the nineteenth
century. It is not surprising, therefore, that sub-standard housing accommodation
constitutes one of the major problems confronting the Public Health Department. Many
hundreds of these obsolete houses fail to conform to the minimum requirements of the
modest standard of fitness for habitation prescribed by the Housing Act, 1957. During
the year 1,822 complaints concerning unsatisfactory housing conditions were received
and investigated and 813 notices specifying works to remedy defects such as dampness,
general disrepair, leaking roofs, defective drainage, inadequate sanitary facilities
etc. were served. Altogether 9,952 visits of inspection in connection with some aspect
of housing were carried out by the Public Health Inspectorate under the Public Health
Acts, Rent Act, Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, Housing (Consolidated) Regulations,
etc.
Legal proceedings arising from the failure of owners to comply with the requirements
of the notices served under the nuisance abatement procedure were applied for in
29 cases. Such proceedings are not, however, always successful in enforcing successful
repairs. In a number of instances the Public Health Committee were obliged to consider
alternative procedures under the Housing Act.
627 detailed inspections under the Housing Act were made in connection with the
Council's programme in relation to Slum Clearance and Re-development Areas. Survey of
all properties in the second stage of the Beaumont Road Area was completed during the
latter part of the year, and in October an official representation in respect of this
area-comprising three Clearance Areas containing 157 unfit houses-was submitted to
the Public Health Committee, together with a report setting out details of the reasonsunfitness
for habitation and general bad arrangement-why demolition of all the houses
and other buildings in the areas was considered necessary.
At its November meeting the Public Health Committee recommended the Council to
declare these areas to be Clearance Areas in accordance with the provisions of section
42 of the Act, and referred to the Housing Committee the question of steps to be taken
to secure the clearance and re-development of the areas and the re-housing of the
persons to be displaced.
A Compulsory Purchase Order embracing 192 houses was subsequently confirmed by the
Council at its meeting on 30th November, 1961.
Five houses in Avenue Road were also recommended to be dealt with by way of clearance
area procedure as a preliminary stage to a scheme of comprehensive development for
the area as a whole.
Further details of inspections and notices served under the Housing and Public
Health Acts and other relevant legislation, the number of houses classified as a result
of inspections under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925/32, details of improvements
effected to dwelling houses as a result, of informal and statutory action, and
information regarding the institution of legal proceedings and the administration of
the Rent Act, 1957, are given in the statistical section of the report which follows.
RODENT CONTROL
A meeting of No.3 Workable Area Committee set up by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food for rodent control was held at Leyton on Friday, 29th September. The
Committee, comprising some 16 neighbouring authorities, meets about three times a year
to discuss problems related to rodent control on a regional basis. The Council is
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