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32
crowd together not only because there is a shortage of houses but
also because there is a shortage of money to meet the higher rents
required.
The Housing Committee are taking active steps to select the
most suitable cases for the occupation of the houses that are in
course of construction as they become completed. This is a difficult
matter, because in many of the instances, the people who most
need more accommodation are not able to pay the rental
required.
The reasons mentioned above make it exceedingly difficult to
get repairs done with the same promptitude as they were carried
out in pre-war days, and I find that more time has to be given to
property owners for the purpose of carrying out repairs required.
In the case of owners of large blocks of property, repairs are carried
out over a period according to agreed arrangements.
There is also the difficulty of dealing with the owner who,
instead of spending the increased rent on his property, is in such
circumstances that he makes use of it for other purposes, and allows
the property to become in a state of disrepair. Where the sole
income is obtained from house property, there is a certain difficulty
in getting the owner to undertake repairs; but so far, by allowing a
little latitude, we have been able to get the work done.
Generally speaking, there is very much more anxiety and
worry in getting repairs executed to property for the reasons given
above at the present time, and it is much more difficult to deal with
owners of what one might term "poor-class property."
Unhealthy Areas.
No information or complaints have been received, nor has it
been necessary to make any representations with respect to any
unhealthy areas in the District.