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Accidents continue to occur in registered premises, these fortunately are minor in
character, but each accident is investigated and action taken to prevent a recurrence.
In the field of housing. The year was notable in that for the first time the principle of
improvement and repair of houses was made sufficiently attractive to house owners to
encourage serious attempts at modernisation of their properties. The legislation was, of
course, the procedure prescribed in the Housing Act, 1969 which enabled the substitution of
Regulated Tenancies for Controlled Tenancies in certain defined circumstances, thereby
giving landlords the incentive of higher rents for improved dwellings.
Thus there is now a two pronged attack on the housing problem; firstly the demolition
of unfit houses which have reached the end of their useful life, and secondly the new policy
of encouragement to improve and repair dwellings to a reasonable state of maintenance where
they have a suitable life expectation.
The programme for the replacement of unfit dwellings proceeded according to plan
during the year when Stage III of the Cathall Road Slum Clearance/Redevelopment Scheme
covering an area of some 8 acres was confirmed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
(now renamed the Department of Environment). Local Public Inquiries in respect of
Sidmouth Road, E. 10 and Markhouse Road, E. 17. areas were conducted during the year; the
former received Ministry confirmation by the end of the year. The Sidmouth Road area adjoins
a General Improvement Area and the sites of most of the unfit houses are scheduled to become
a recreation space which will provide a much needed environmental improvement to the area
as a whole. It is pleasant to record that the Council opened two show-houses within this
General Improvement Area, thus demonstrating to the public the practical benefits of the
modernisation of properties. The number of visitors to these dwellings well justified the
efforts of the Borough Architect's Department. It should also be recorded that the Markhouse
Road, E.I7. area is the first scheme to be adopted which deals both with clearance areas and
also with an adjoining area of houses which, in the opinion of the Council although not unfit
for habitation, have passed their useful life. This combination of powers under Parts III and
V of the 1957 Housing Act may be the forerunner of similar proposals to bring obsolescent
areas up to standard by way of urban renewal.
So far as improvement of properties by way of repairs and provision of amenities is
concerned, sound, indeed hectic, progress has been made during the year. In spite of a slow
start during the early months a total of 1,294 applications were received for Qualification
Certificates or Certificates of Provisional Approval. As the majority of applications have
necessitated at least 2 visits to each property, this has involved the Public Health Inspectorate
in considerable work which has had to be carried out in addition to existing duties and
without additional staff. To qualify for regulated rent, houses must possess all 5 standard
amenities of sink, bath, wash-hand basin, hot water supplies, and internal W.C.; they must
be in good repair having regard to age, character and locality, and must be in all other
respects fit for habitation. Good repair is a variable state, and standards adopted in one
locality may not be reasonable in another area of different character. This work therefore
calls for judgement based on experience as well as sound technical knowledge.
The new financial inducements contained in the 1969 Housing Act present owners and
Local Authorities alike with an opportunity to rehabilitate those dwellings which have been
let at rentals insufficient to secure proper maintenance and which in the past have been
doomed to creep into obsolescence.
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