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23
Closing and Demolition Orders
Housing Act, 1936 (Sections 11 and 12) 1952 1951
Closing Orders:
19, College Parade, Salisbury Road (1 room closed—basement right front (scullery annexe)) 1 13
Demolition Orders
157, Willesden Lane
4, Chippenham Gardens 2 4
Three demolition orders made in 1950 were complied with in 1952: 19, Grosvenor Gardens,
2, Rupert Road and 14, Victoria Villas; the Borough Engineer demolished the last two named houses in
default of the owners.
Two demolition orders (on 32, Connaught Road and 1, Avenue Road) made in 1950 are still outstanding
on account of legal difficulties. The owner of 32, Connaught Road appealed against the order, and
the County Court judge adjourned the case so that the Council and the owner could reach an agreement on
the work to be done. The owner contracted to repair the house and convert it into flats, and the Council
agreed to rehouse the tenants on condition that the owner accepted two tenants from the Council's waiting
list. A building licence was issued for the necessary work, and the selling price and rent of the two flats was
fixed, but the owner has since stated that the rents fixed were too low, and he asks the Council to consider
alternative proposals. The Council have referred the case back to the County Court judge.
The tenants have now vacated 1, Avenue Road and part of the premises is being used as a store.
Of the four demolition orders made in 1951, one (3, Rupert Road) was carried out by the Borough
Engineer in default of the owner; the other three (1 and 2, Bridge Place and 76, Canterbury Road) have not
been complied with because it has not been possible to rehouse the tenants.
Of the two demolition orders made in 1952, one (4, Chippenham Gardens, a derelict vacant property)
has been carried out, but the other (157, Willesden Lane) has not been complied with because It has not been
possible to rehouse the tenants.
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the overcrowding problem, which still remains acute. There are no
accurate figures of present.day overcrowding in the area, but it is hoped that the census and the house.to.
house inspections will give some information on this. The number of licences issued to permit temporary
overcrowding under section 61 of the Housing Act, remained low, because landlords are no longer using this
section to obtain an eviction order because they known that the Court is inclined to deal sympathetically with
the tenants.
1952 1951
Licences to permit temporary overcrowding in excess of the permitted number, section 61,
Housing Act, 1936: licences issued 3 2
The Housing Department have supplied the following details of overcrowding in the area which have
been based mainly on the statements of applicants for new houses:—
(a) (i) Dwellings overcrowded at end of year 1821
(ii) Families 1500
(iii) Persons 5250
(b) Overcrowding reported during the year 204
(c) (i) Overcrowding relieved during the year 99
(ii) Persons 396
(d) Dwelling houses which have again become overcrowded after the local authority have taken
steps for the abatement of overcrowding No information
(e) (i) Council houses found to be overcrowded at end of year 81
(ii) Families 119
(iii) Persons 714
(f) Overcrowding in Council houses relieved during the year 27
New Dwellings, 1952
Houses Flats Rebuilds
Dwellings built by private builders 9 Nil 10
(excluding those built by the police authorities)
Built by local authority 16 2 —
Applicants on Council's waiting list at 31.12.52 10,801
Housing Defects 1952 1951
Premises inspected on complaint 4310 4649
In connection with infectious diseases 5 7
House.to.house (Housing Act, 1936, S.5.) 139 190
Others 150 179
Under special survey (see page 22) 602 —
Total No. of premises 5206 5025
No. of inspections (inclusive of Housing Survey) 27695 27258