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39
Harrow's problem is probably relatively small because so much of
the district was developed in recent years. The Ministry of Housing and
Local Government refers in the Publication— "Houses : the next step"—
to the problem as it affects the country as a whole. For the purpose of
a comprehensive plan of repair, maintenance, improvement and demolition
which covers all types and conditions of houses, houses are divided
into four categories:—
(i) The best—the great mass of essentially sound houses, many of
which are in good condition and all of which the landlords
could be expected to keep in good condition given a reasonable
rent. This in many cases must mean some increase in
rent.
(ii) The worst—the slum houses which ought to be demolished as
soon as circumstances permit. Only a proportion can be
pulled down and replaced in the next five years. Since the
rest must, of necessity, remain in use they should at least
be patched up in order to make life more tolerable for their
occupants.
(iii) An intermediate class—the "dilapidated" houses—some of
which may be brought into the first class by their owners,
others of which local authorities may have to get repaired in
all essentials by greater use of their statutory powers.
(iv) Houses which could give years of good service if they were
improved—that is to say provided with bathrooms, hot
water, up-to-date cooking arrangements and other necessary
amenities; also houses too big for present-day needs which
could be converted into good, comfortable flats.
To give the landlord sufficient to enable him to carry out repairs to
the essentially sound houses, it is proposed that the repairs increase
shall be an amount equal to twice the statutory deduction, i.e., the
difference between the gross value for rating purposes and its rateable
value, with a proviso that no rent shall rise above twice the existing
gross value of the house. The landlord will be able to claim the repairs
increase only if the house is in good general repair as respects both
structure and decoration. If the tenant considers at any time that the
house is not maintained in this state of repair, he can apply to the local
authority for a "certificate of disrepair." This certificate will enable him
to withhold payment of the repairs increase. The repairs increase is
not allowed unless the landlord can show that he has actually spent
money on repairs.
Slum houses are defined as those which are unfit for human habitation
and cannot be made fit at a reasonable expense, or which by reason
of their bad arrangement or the narrowness or bad arrangement of the
streets are dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants. Some of
these houses were already scheduled for demolition before the war.
The lack of attention to property during the war years accelerated the
decay of others. There are so many of these houses that they cannot
all be demolished over a short period of time, so that many must continue
to be lived in for some time to come. For this time they must be made