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HOUSING. The housing situation Is most unsatisfactory. The Council are embarrassed
by a huge waiting list of applicants but cannot at the same time provide new houses both
for applicants on the waiting list and also for large slum clearance schemes.
With regard to repairs the position becomes even more difficult. Costs continue to
rise and owners beg the Council to take over their properties as a gift.
The tenant of a house cannot understand the difficulties of the position; he comes
to the office and complains that the landlord has failed to do what Is necessary to remedy
the matter complained of. In some cases he, the tenant, is receiving more by sub-letting
than he himself pays for the whole house but he still expects the landlord to pay for all
repairs and decorations, even of the sub-let part of the house. The landlord holds no such
view and there the controversy begins. Bitter feelings are aroused whilst the department's
attitude of strict impartiality is Interpreted by one side as lack of interest and by the
other as victimisation. It is not unusual to receive by the same post a demand by the tenant
for action and an objection by the landlord that the works requested cannot be executed at a
reasonable cost and offering to transfer the property free of cost.
Every effort is made to retain In occupation numerous dwellings which in normal times
would be swept away by Clearance Orders but the Intolerance of those concerned makes life
distinctly unpleasant.
In seventeen cases It was found impossible to avoid reports to the Committee that
the houses concerned were (a) unfit for human habitation and (b) could not be made fit at
a reasonable cost. Fifteen Demolition Orders were made and undertakings to make fit were
accepted in two cases. One Closing Order was made In respect of a part of a building used
for, but inflt for, habitation.
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