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No difficulties were experienced during the year in taking
action under the Public Health Acts when dealing with
housing conditions.
In several instances it was found more practicable to deal
satisfactorily with properties by means of negotiations with
the owners rather than by taking formal action under the
Housing Acts.
In the Report for 1936, mention was made of the re-conditioning
which was being carried out in a block of buildings
comprising forty-eight self-contained flats. By the end of 1938
thirty-three of these flats had been dealt with. Considerable
alterations have been made to the sanitary conveniences, additional
windows have been provided, and the lighting of the
rooms very much improved.
The owner has undertaken to complete the work for the
whole of the flats within the time given by the Council.
In 1937 a block of five dwelling-houses, which were unfit
for human habitation, had become empty, the owner having
previously given an undertaking to the Council not to re-let
them when vacancies occurred. The last remaining tenant was
re-housed under arrangements made by the Council.
These dwelling-houses have been demolished and a portion
of the site is now used as a garden.
This demolition made it possible for the small and
crowded yards of four adjoining houses to be extended a
further fourteen feet. This enabled the owner to re-build the
waterclosets and wash-houses at a more desirable distance from
the dwellings. In addition, dilapidated structures were removed
and other general improvements effected.
The whole of this work was accomplished as the result
of negotiations, without the service of a notice.
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