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(2) Action taken during the Year
1. Houses demolished by Local Authorities or Owners
(a) unfit —
(b) others —
2. Numbers of people displaced (a) individuals —
(b) families —
HOUSING
Individual Unfit Houses
Six houses were found to be unfit and not repairable at reasonable expense—in four cases
Demolition Orders were made and in two, Closing Orders made.
Works in default
In one case the owner of a dwelling house failed to comply with a notice to carry out repairs
under Section 9, Housing Act 1957, i.e. repairable at reasonable expense, and the Council carried
out the necessary work in default at a cost of £332 4s. 8d.
Clearance Areas
Two houses were inspected and found suitable for Clearance Area procedure, and were included
in the Station Road Clearance Area No. 1. This area was represented to the Health Committee on
8th November, 1966, and formally declared as a Clearance Area.
Multiple Occupation
An accurate assessment of the extent of multiple occupation has not been possible, but on the
1st April, 1965, 128 houses were known to be in multiple occupation. At the end of 1965, 163 were
known to be in multiple occupation, with a further 113 needing investigation.
The policy in controlling this situation is by the use of the powers given in the Housing Acts
1961 and 1964. Action taken has been mainly the service of Direction Orders limiting the number
of individuals who may occupy 3 and 4 bedroom houses to 5. When an empty house is found in
an area where multiple occupation is taking place similar Direction Order procedure is followed.
Direction Notices have no immediate effect. If the number of people living in a house when a
Direction Notice is made exceeds the number laid down in the Notice, no offence is committed. If
(a) the number of occupants increases after the service of a Direction Notice or (b) persons leave who
are in excess of the number stated in the Direction Notice and are replaced, a contravention takes
place, and legal proceedings can be taken.
The Chief Planning Officer is notified of all new cases and enforcement action is taken in
appropriate cases. When larger type houses are discovered in multiple occupation and the type of
letting is the typical bed-sitter, notices requiring extra facilities in the form of water supply,
washing facilities, cooking facilities etc. are served.
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