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On the completion of the work preparatory to action under
Part 1, it was decided to deal with certain types of working class
dwellings under Part 2 of the Housing Act, 1930, in order to
achieve their more thorough structural repair.
Some of the worst properties in the Borough were selected
and by the year end, 459 Notices had been served under Section
17, most of which called for very extensive repairs and in many
cases for partial reconstruction. The question of reasonable cost
has loomed large on the horizon and a number of cases of threatened
appeal have been smoothed out by meetings on the properties
concerned between the Chief Inspector and owners with their
contractors. It is very difficult in practice, for instance, to specify
exactly to what extent a wall is to be pulled down and re-built,
but when an owner is on the property and his contractor cuts
into a reputed 9 inch wall which has a 4 inch bulge out of plumb,
and then finds that it is built of stretchers and bats and is in a
highly dangerous condition, such owner is convinced of the need
for the expenditure of his money. It is a remarkable fact, taking
into account the type of property involved, that up to the time of
writing this Report, no appeals have been brought against Notices
under Section 17.
Twenty-five official representations have been made under
Section 19 of the Act in respect of houses which were unfit for
human habitation and could not be rendered so fit at a reasonable
expense, and one in respect of a part of a building let separately
as a dwelling. Owners or their representatives appeared in respect
of 21 houses but in no case was it suggested that the houses concerned
could be made fit at a reasonable cost.
Offers to make fit were accepted in respect of fourteen houses,
undertakings not to use for human habitation were accepted in
respect of five. Demolition orders were made affecting seven, and
two had been demolished at the year end, the others being held up
pending the provision of alternative accommodation for the
occupiers. The part of a building dealt with under Section 20
has been made fit.
There can be no doubt that many more houses could be
dealt with under Section 19, if houses were available for persons
displaced in those cases where owners fail to make satisfactory
offers to make fit.
No appeals of any description were made during the year.
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