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39
of their being the subject of Demolition Orders. They probably still head the
list and being nearly ripe for demolition in 1939, are that much more unfit
to-day.
But to-day they are possibly closely followed by other houses which in
ordinary circumstances would have survived longer, but which are in that
much worse condition because of the limited attention they have had in the
last twelve years. A list of these has not been prepared, and these are being
referred to now only to remove any impression that, were it possible to deal
with the 212 houses, that would be the end of the list of houses which are
likely to wear out in the next few years. It must be appreciated, too, that
just as for such reasons as settlements, some houses, including some built
as recently as the 1930's, have had to be demolished, so others might need
to be for similar reasons.
7. The minimum requirement of housing, then, in the coming few
years is 41 to house those living in houses which are already the subject of
confirmed Clearance Orders ; 13 for those living in houses the subject of
confirmed Demolition Orders ; at least 50 to house those living in Poets'
Corner in houses which should not be occupied ; 282 to house the families
now living in those 212 houses which in 1939 were about to be considered
for demolition. To this total of 386 must be added an unknown figure to
provide houses for those living in houses which will become unfit for human
habitation, either because of dilapidation due to ageing or because of such
factors as settlements.
8. The information about the condition of the 200-odd houses, is
that of 1939. It would not take too long to obtain particulars of the families
living in them. It would, however, take a very long time to decide which
should be the first 20, 50 or 100 to be brought to the attention of the Committee
with a view to Demolition Orders being made. For the time being,
then, no information is being obtained about the composition of the families
at present occupying these houses.
9. If a house is considered to be capable of being put into a proper
state at a reasonable cost, the procedure is the serving of a Notice under
Section 9. When a Section 11 Notice is served, the owner must be given an
opportunity of appearing before the committee to show cause that a Demolition
Order should not be made. There is no similar provision when a
Section 9 Notice is served. If the owner objects to the Notice, he may
exercise his right to appeal to the Court, or he may just not do the work, in
which case the Authority might do it and then proceed to recover the cost
from the owner. To-day some owners who on being served with a Section
9 Notice maintain they are not in a financial position to undertake repairs
and rather than have to do this, would be prepared to see the house demolished.
In some such cases, the owners have offered to sell the houses to
the Council. These houses have sanitary defects in them which, in the interests
of those living in them, must be remedied. The houses are classed as being
unfit for human habitation, and the Housing Act imposes on the Authority
an obligation to see either they are rendered fit or they are not used for
human habitation. Many of these, however, are not houses which to-day
can be considered as not being capable of repair at a reasonable expense.
But the owners decline to do the necessary work. The Authority can insist
on the work being done by carrying it out themselves, but if they later have
to use the Courts to recover the cost, they would appear as a body which
insists on the private owner undertaking work which they themselves are
not prepared to do. If they do not carry out the work, then as long as the
houses are occupied, the tenants continue to live in houses unfit for human