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HOUSING ACT, 1936.
UNFIT HOUSES.
During the year 8 premises were dealt with under this Act
as follows:-
18, Willow Walk
17, Courtenay Place
18, 11 "
19, " "
Demolition Orders.
20, Courtenay Place
1, Gould's Cottages
2, " "
Demolition
Orders
21, Collingwood Road (2 rooms First Floor) Closing Order.
GENERAL.
The following is supplied by Mr.J.E.West, your Council's
Housing Manager:-
"Housing conditions in the Borough during the year 1943/4
continued to deteriorate due to enemy action and lack of facilities
for adequate maintenance and repair.
Although comparatively light compared with other years the number
of properties damaged during the year amounted to 3,900 comprising
2 demolished, 1 condemned, 21 seriously damaged and uninhabitable,
61 seriously damaged but still habitable, and the remainder
slightly damaged or windows only.
Probably the most important development in housing during the
year was the issue of Ministry of Health Circular 2845 relating to
the housing of persons "inadequately housed" where requisitioned
premises in excess of the "approved" quota were held for "homeless
persons", i.e. homeless by enemy action, a number of properties
could be transferred under the powers delegated by the Circular
referred tc for the accommodation of persons inadequately housed.
For this purpose 10 flats were reserved and following a very careful
scrutiny of those cases which appeared to be most in need, these
premises were allocated and 28 persons in all rehoused.
During the year 124 families comprising 420 persons were
rehoused from the "homeless" group and 59 transfers affecting
191 persons were arranged.
Much useful work was also done by "indirect lettings" as the
result of co-operation with local Estate Agents and some exchanges
of tenancies were also negotiated which all assisted in the
improvement of living conditions for the families concerned.
The vacancies arising during the year numbered 36 and in
addition 11 properties were repaired following extensive damage
by enemy action. A total of 51 properties was dealt with in
the following way.
By transfers of tenants to smaller or larger
accommodation as required - 10. These lettings
involved 52 persons.
2 lettings involving 7 persons on the recommendation
of the Medical Officer of Health.
18 normal lettings from the waiting list affeoting
65 persons.
17 lettings due to enemy aotion involving 65 persons.
It cannot be denied that the decline in housing standards during
the war years will have very serious repercussions in the years
following the war and already it is possible to see the rough
outline of the problem with whioh we shall be faced. Only the
most determined effort by the Government, the Local Authorities and
the people can succeed in remedying the ravages of the war, and the
lowering of the standards due to cessation of building, damage by
enemy aotion and steady growth in the number of families, together
with the influx of families from other parts of the greater London
area which have also suffered severely from enemy aotion.
15.