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with by the Housing Act, 1957. The new provision in the Housing Act, 1969 which deals with
the repair of dwelling houses which although not unfit require substantial repairs has been used
as extensively as possible in appropriate cases. In addition to those dwellings repaired as a result
of notices under the above Acts, every dwelling in respect of which an improvement grant has
been made has also been repaired as a condition of grant to the department's satisfaction, i.e. to
the good repair standard. An interesting exercise is worth reporting which concerned eight dwellings
in Villier Street, Uxbridge. The owners and tenants were all invited to an informal meeting at which
the improvement grant schemes were explained with a view to interesting the owners in repairing
and improving with grant aid their respective dwellings. The new rent structure was also explained
to the tenants. With one exception there is a distinct possibility that the owners will take advantage
of the grants available to carry out improvement and repair thus saving the houses from falling
into the unfit classification.
SLUM CLEARANCE
There are three ways in which to deal with dwelling houses which have reached the end of
their useful life and ought to be demolished. In the case of a single dwelling house which is unfit
and not repairable at reasonable expense a demolition order is made requiring its demolition.
If the dwelling is unfit and not repairable at reasonable expense and its demolition is not expedient,
having regard to the effect on contiguous property, a Closing Order is made. In both cases,
although not legally bound to do so, the Borough Council accepts responsibility for rehousing
the occupants of such houses. A Demolition Order requires the dwelling to be demolished after
vacation. A Closing Order, although not requiring the demolition of the dwelling, prohibits its
re-use for human habitation unless the order is determined as a result of extensive repairs to restore
it to a satisfactory state for habitation.
When two or more contiguous dwellings are found to be unfit and after considering the
public health inspector's report, the Local Authority considers the best way of dealing with the
dwellings is by their total clearance, then either of two courses of action may follow:
(a) If the Local Authority require the land on which the dwellings stand, for its own redevelopment
purposes, a Compulsory Purchase Order is made.
(b) If the Local Authority does not require the land on which the dwellings stand, then a
Clearance Order is made.
In both cases the dwellings are demolished and the site cleared and tenants are entitled
under this procedure to be rehoused by the Council. In the former, the Council redevelops to its
own plans, in the latter the owner can redevelop subject to planning approval.
In all cases where dwelling houses are condemned for unfitness reasons, the tenant and the
owner are entitled to apply for a well-maintained grant providing the dwelling concerned has in
fact been well-maintained not withstanding its unfitness. Well-maintained grants are available to
both landlord and tenant where the well-maintained condition of a dwelling is due equally to
both the landlord and the tenant's efforts. In the case of clearance areas the Minister may direct
a Council to pay a well-maintained grant in those cases he thinks appropriate. Four grants of this
kind were made during the year.
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