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When this progress may be possible is not at all clear,
but it should not be long delayed.
In the meantime the struggle to maintain these old houses
continues. With ever rising building repair costs and static
controlled rents, many of them at the 1914 standard, it is a
source of continuous financial embarrassment to landlords to
try to carry out even urgent works. The very difficult conditions
under which some owners exist is well known to your
sanitary inspectors, who labour under a sense of frustration
in their efforts to improve housing conditions,,
It should be remembered that repair notices which are
served upon owners at the present time usually include only
essential repair works. Even when these notices are complied
with, in many cases it would not be possible to issue a
certificate of fitness, within the standards of the Housing
Acts. The costs of the additional works which would be required
for this purpose and to bring the houses up to By-law standard
would be completely uneconomic. It has not been unknown for
an owner to offer to give away a house because of the
financial burden of maintaining it in reasonable condition.
Housing-Statistical Statement-1950.
The following information has been supplied by the
Borough Surveyor:-
No. of Dwellings erected by private enterprise during 1950.
Houses.
New construction - 11
War Damaged - 5

Total No. of temporary dwellings erected up to 51st December.
1950.
Arcon - 132
Aluminium - 70
2 year Huts - 126
Total 328
No. of 2 year Huts demolished during 1950.
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