London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hillingdon 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]

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The position with the 2 representations is as follows:
Applications for grants by owners 1
Houses found to be unfit and dealt with by Closing Orders —
Representations cancelled —
Immediate Notices served on owners —
Negotiations with owners in progress 1
Improvement Grants
There has been a change in the type of application for grants this year the greater number
being for the improvement grant rather than the standard grant. In accordance with the Act,
assistance by public health inspectors has been given to both owners and builders in the somewhat
complex form filling and other submissions that are required for grant purposes. The scheme has
worked well in this Borough and few applications have been refused. The reason for such refusals
has been that the work proposed was outside the scope of the grant scheme.
There are still some 1,800 houses lacking in basic amenities and these houses are the most
likely to need substantial repair as they are the oldest. It is to these houses that attention will have
to be directed in the immediate future.
Before the improvement and rent provisions of the Housing Act, 1969 were operative the
majority of applications for improvement grant applications were from owner occupiers but since
that date the majority of applications are being submitted by owners of tenanted property. This
will speed up as it becomes possible with staff availability to inspect houses and serve on the
owners notices requiring substantial repair. In fact when notices for this purpose have been served
during 1971 on owners of properties lacking in amenity the owner has immediately applied for
an improvement grant. This is the purpose of the scheme and will result, it is hoped, in a great
improvement in the older houses.
86

Details of Improvement Grant Applications received and given Grants in 1971 are as follows: Standard Grants

Owner/OccupierTenanted
1. Number of applications received1617
2. Number of applications approved911
3. Number of applications refused
4. Number of dwellings improved1022
5. Works carried out in default
6. Number of applications cancelled or changed to Improvement Grants42

The total number of applications for Standard Grant in 1970 was 159.
Amount paid in grants £3,956 00
Average grant per house £123 00
Amenities Provided
(a) fixed bath 11
(b) shower —
(c) wash hand basin 23
(d) hot water supply (to any fittings) 29
(e) water closet:
(i) within dwelling 17
(ii) accessible from dwelling —
(f) food store —
(g) sink 3