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publicity; the term "Rachmanism" has been added to our vocabulary to symbolise in a
word how the serious shortage of housing accommodation in London and other conurbations
is being exploited by the type of person who seeks to cash in on the accommodation needs
of a desperate population by acquiring large, obsolete houses and letting off rooms to
individuals or families, and often without any adaptation to the structure or the provision
of additional facilities and amenities to meet the basic needs of the occupants.
Reports in the national press depict situations where it is alleged that tenants,
with the object of the landlord securing vacant possession, are being subjected to
assault, threats, intimidation, ill-treatment, annoyance, persecution, unfair persuasion,
and interference with personal possessions and accommodation, services,etc. Such reports
aroused the national conscience to such an extent that in November of this year the
Minister of Housing and Local Government set up a special Committee to survey the
housing situation in Greater London, with particular reference to this aspect of the
problem.
A new Housing Bill is also being considered by Parliament. The Bill contains
provisions which, if they become law, will considerably strengthen the powers available
to local authorities.
Of the statutory duties and responsibilities confronting the local authority,none
is more important or, indeed, more onerous, than that which concerns obsolete housing.
The duties of the public health inspectorate in relation to the existing housing
accommodation are concerned generally with the repair, demolition or closure of unfit
houses, slum clearance, and other matters arising from the issue of certificates of
disrepair under the Rent Act. Dwelling houses are inspected as general routine, or on
complaint, and statutory action taken as appropriate to secure the remedying of defects
and abatement of nuisances. Over the past twelve months some 11,147 inspections and
re-inspections were made under the Public Health Acts, Housing and Rent Acts, Prevention
of Damage by Pests Act, and other legislation. 1, 956 complaints regarding unsatisfactory
conditions were investigated and 1,177 notices specifying works to remedy defects such
as dampness, general disrepair, leaking roofs, defective drainage, etc. were served.
In addition 526 houses were surveyed under the Housing Consolidated Regulations 1925/32
to ascertain their fitness for human habitation, having regard to the standard prescribed
by the Housing Acts and the possibility or otherwise of their being included in a slum
clearance scheme or dealt with by demolition or closing order procedure.
Legal proceedings arising from the failure of owners to comply with the requirements
of notices served under the nuisance abatement procedure of the Public Health Act
were initiated in 38 cases. Such proceedings are not, however, always successful in
enforcing essential repairs, and in a number of instances the Public Health Committee
were obliged to consider alternative procedures under the Housing Act.
During the year under review nine applications under the Rent Act, 1957, for
certificates of disrepair, and 19 applications for certificates as to the remedying of
defects etc. were received and dealt with by the public health inspectorate; eight
notices (Form J) of the Council's proposal to issue such certificates were served on
landlords, arising out of which one undertaking (Form K) to remedy defects specified
thereon within a period of six months was submitted by the owner and accepted by the
Council, and five certificates of disrepair were issued.
The Council's programme in relation to slum clearance and re-development is
proceeding satisfactorily.
A public local inquiry in respect of the Leyton Housing (Avenue Road and Morris
Road) Compulsory Purchase Order, 1962, was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday, 5th June,
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