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51
The Public Health Inspector can only make suggestions. The
decisions rest with the people concerned. The result is in a sacrifice
of some form or another and this may or may not have an effect on their
existing standard of living or a subsequent (although not readily
connected) effect on their general well-being, or health. In addition,
it is normally only the minimum essentials that receive attention, and
the property remains in much the same basic state of neglect and subject
to additional troubles arising.
The general living conditions of old people who are controlled
tenants show similar characteristics. Only part of the house is in
regular use; the internal decorations are dirty with age, and the
exterior decorations badly weather worn and exposing the fabric of the
building underneath. Often, the last major attention the property
received was during the immediate post-war period as a result of war
damage repair. Here, speaking generally, the owners budget for repair
work within the confined limits of the return from the controlled rent
and the effect on the property is one of apparent neglect. Usually,
the essential repairs are attended to by the owners, and as such there
is no immediate problem, but the Public Health Inspector is often
asked in such cases whether assistance can be given to obtain redecoration
of the rooms in use. Typically, the walls and ceiling of the
living room may be almost black, and give a very depressing atmosphere
to the old people who spend a large proportion of their time in the
room. It poses a difficulty to convince the old people concerned that
under the existing provisions of the Rent Act the terms of the tenancy
are such that it falls upon themselves to bear the cost of the redecoration
and that the owner no longer has the responsibility.
The Public Health Inspector does not often come into direct
contact with the old person who is an owner of tenanted property, as
the property is normally in the hands of agents. However, the effect
on the property is much the same, with expenditure at a minimum and
the property on the border-line of repair. Depending upon the actual
tenure, the state of the premises may be improved by the activity of
the tenant, particularly if there is a young tenant who exerts himself
to redecorate the rooms to his liking.
The effect of limited fixed incomes of old people also shows in
connection with work required under the Clean Air Act, in that the
elderly persons will often indicate that the alterations cannot be
afforded, or that the cost of the smokeless fuel will be beyond their
means. Most of thern have a strong sensQ of independence, and it is
only a few who actually apply for extensions of the 70% grant
available. In general, the benefit of conversion to smokeless fuel
is not appreciated by the old people, and there remains a rooted
preference for the coal fire which they have been accustomed to for
the past sixty or seventy years or more. It often seems that the
Public Health Inspector's conversations with old people on this
subject has little lasting effect, and they are reluctant to convert
to smokeless fuel.