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The greatest number of dwellings affected by the changing scene are those which pose
the old question of replacement or renovation. The answer is not easy. There is movement away
from the old concept of "slum" (here it may be noted that this well-used term does not appear in
the basic housing legislation) toward the view that the efforts of the local authority should be
directed towards extending the useful life of properties which are structurally sound and environmentally
satisfactory by the installation of a socially acceptable standard of amenities.
Waltham Forest is not alone in this problem. It is being considered at both national and
metropolitan levels. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has approached its reassessment
of the problem in two ways; firstly - by mounting a national survey of dwellings, and
secondly - by reviewing the standard of housing fitness prescribed by legislation.
The survey of the condition of the national stock of housing involved a country wide
statistically controlled sample of dwellings. In order to co-operate the Council seconded a public
health inspector to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for inspection duties in the
Midlands. Results published so far suggest that unfit housing is more prevalent but concentrated
in relatively fewer areas than previous information had suggested.
With regard to standard of housing fitness, the report of the standards of fitness Subcommittee
of the Central Housing Advisory Committee recommended that local authorities should
have guidance as to the interpretation of the definition of unfitness and this was the basis of a
Ministry circular issued during the year. Meanwhile, a general review of the problem of legislation
affecting older houses is awaited.
At Metropolitan level the survey of the condition of the borough's housing stock was
undertaken in co-operation with the Greater London Council. The survey, which represented the
most comprehensive and accurate stocktaking of houses ever undertaken in London, was carried
out by the public health inspectorate with some assistance from the planning and architect's
departments. Addresses of 4% of the rateable units were selected from rating lists and thirteen
questions relating to type of buildings, condition, facilities, parking space, possibility of
improvement and suitability for conversion were answered for each address. As personal contact
with the occupants of the selected dwellings was necessary, a considerable proportion of the
work had to be carried out at weekends and evenings. 3,529 housing survey reports were submitted
to the Greater London Council for detailed analysis by computers from which data the following
statistics have been compiled.
From the sample the following estimates of total dwellings are made:-

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