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HOUSING DEPARTMENT
New Properties
During 1971, 252 (477) properties were completed. These were all at Benhill
Avenue, Sutton and were part of the total development;
Casual Vacancies, Mutual Exchanges and Transfers
246 properties were vacated and re-let during the year. 82 mutual exchanges
and 152 transfers were arranged.
Rehousing from Clearance and Redevelopment Areas
To provide for the closing or demolition of dwellings 9(11) families were
rehoused.
Housing Waiting List
At the 31st December, 1971, there were 2,337 (2,239) applicants on the
Council's Housing Waiting List, of which 656 (588) were elderly persons.
Housing of Special Cases
The number of applicants housed during 1971 under the delegated authority
granted to the following officers was\ :
Medical Officer of Health 59
Housing Manager 17
Director of Social Services 18
(NOTE: Prior to the 1st January, 1971, the delegated power to authorise the
housing of families in urgent need was vested in the former Director
of Health and Family Services and during 1970/71 families were
housed under this authority).
At the 31st December, 1971 there were 159 further cases in which urgent
rehousing had been authorised under delegated powers.
Broadly, these fall into two categories. Firstly those who face the prospect of
becoming homeless because the property in which they reside is to be demolished (either by
the Council or privately), or because of personal domestic circumstances. These applicants
are being rehoused as expeditiously as possible. The second category consists of applicants
in ill health for whom better and/or more suitable accommodation is essential. Of the 159
cases 138 fall into this second group, of which 66 are elderly persons who health is being
seriously impaired by the conditions in which they are living. Many of these elderly persons
are handicapped and there is little hope of helping them until suitable accommodation is
provided and attention is again drawn to the urgent need for more dwellings to be built for
handicapped and disabled persons.
Total Number of Properties
The total number of properties owned by the Council and let by the Housing
Department as at 31st December, 1971, was 7,535 (5,628). This figure includes the 1,655
properties transferred by the Greater London Council (St. Helier Estate) in April, 1971, to
this Authority.
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