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63
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
The year 1972 saw no startling changes in the pattern of the work of
the Environmental Health Section though problems in obtaining the
services of Inspectors resulted in a drop in the number of routine
inspections of food shops and other premises. Unfortunately these
problems coincided with increased demands for action in connection with
Qualification Certificates (Housing Act 1969). In this field however, much
was accomplished resulting in the repair and improvement of a considerable
number of dwellings. Few realise in fact the extent of the work
undertaken and the benefits that resulted from the procedure that was
followed in respect of the applications that were received for these
Certificates. Throughout the year too a steady stream of properties was
dealt with under the Closing Order Provisions of the Housing Acts. A
property (or part thereof) is made the subject of a Closing Order when it
is found to be beyond repair at a reasonable cost. Thus the rent paid in
respect of the tenancy plays an important part in this matter. In fact
owners with properties let at controlled rents and lacking modern facilities
(hot water, bath, internal water closet, etc.,) often welcomed the making
of such Orders—the reason being it led to them obtaining possession.
This in turn left the property vacant, free from rent control and one
which, subject to the owner's undertaking to recondition to a satisfactory
standard became a unit of accommodation on which the Order could be
lifted.
While procedure pursuant to the Closing Order Provisions often
resulted in the local authority providing accommodation for the families
involved it has over the years resulted in a considerable number of substandard
properties being modernised and these are now providing homes
up to the Parker Morris standard for many families. It is perhaps of
interest to record that where individual properties are concerned while
there may at the moment be no satisfactory alternative to this course of
action (apart from purchase by the Local Authority) recent housing
legislation is making the retention of the rented property a much more
attractive proposition for owners.
Harrow, in so far as the "Unfit property" is concerned, has no
serious housing problem though by reason of ageing and other factors
there is always likely to be a steady flow of properties calling for action
under the Unfit Provisions of the Housing Acts—perhaps 15/20 per year.
This is a relatively small number when considered against the 70,000
houses and flats that exist within the Borough.
Overall, the position in respect of housing standards improved
throughout 1972 and with a few exceptions owners and their Agents
co-operated with the Department in securing the execution of repairs
and any other work they were called upon to undertake. The major
difficulty experienced in this field was the finding of contractors willing to
undertake the work—a problem that appears likely to remain for many
years to come. Looking to the future I feel the next big step in the raising