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15
Close co-operation with the Gas and Electricity Boards has been
obtained and it is hoped that the present rate of conversion work will
be maintained.
It is confidently expected that the few furnaces which occasionally
give trouble will be converted to smokeless operation during the
current year. As the Refuse Destructor chimney is also approaching
the end of its useful life there will then be no chimney stacks left in
the area which could give rise to complaint. However, even with
modern fuels, such as oil, careless management can produce unpleasant
emissions.
SECTION 'D' — HOUSING
The number of complaints regarding housing conditions has again
been affected by the nervousness of tenants in their dealings with
landlords. In spite of the general acceptance of rent control for
dwellings of a rateable value of less than £40, individual tenants,
especially the elderly, are often very apprehensive about their security
of tenure. Although, of course, tenants are always advised to make
amicable arrangements with landlords about repairs, nevertheless it is
often found that many complainants seek merely to explore the possibilities
of enforcement action and to find out just what their position
is. There has been an almost complete falling off in applications for
Certificates of Disrepair. In fact, only one Certificate was issued
during the whole of the year. Whilst it may be true that more money
is now being spent on repairs, this is certainly not so in every case and
one can only assume that tenants have been intimidated either by the
uncertainties of the future of rent control or by the cumbersome
procedure for the enforcement of repairs.
Our programme of dealing with unfit basement dwellings has
been slowly pushed ahead. An interesting feature of these is the
amount of money which can be spent on reconditioning work when
once control of the rent is lifted with vacant possession. The action
of the Council in re-housing tenants frees the deadlock in dealing with
these unfit dwellings, but it seems hardly fair that private landlords
should be able to make above-average profits at the expense of many
needy families on the housing waiting list.
Owing to shortage of staff for six months of the year, it was not
found possible to continue with the house to house inspection for
housing defects. A start was made and about 50 houses were surveyed.
Although externally the houses appeared neglected the amount
of serious disrepair was found to be not extensive. In only a few
cases was it necessary to serve statutory notices and to take action in
default.