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34
HOUSING
It is usual when dealing with unfit houses to serve informal notices in the first
instance. In most cases the work required is carried out as a result of these notices
but in some instances it is necessary to serve a statutory notice. In a small
percentage of these, work has to be carried out in owners default.
The complaints received during the year were some 250 more than in the previous
year and the majority of these related to housing defects. This increase and the
fact that the filling of staff vacancies enabled more systematic inspection of houses
known or thought to be in multiple occupation resulted in an increase of 3 70 in the
number of informal notices served.
Clearance of Unfit Houses
In the latter part of the year the Park Lane/Waverley Road Area was represented.
The total number of houses in the compulsory purchase area is 152 of which 33 have
already been accquired by the Council and of the remainder, 76 are considered to be
unfit.
Confirmation was received, with minor modifications, of the Willow Walk/Milton
Road Area and the Tewkesbury Road/Seven Sisters Road Redevelopment Area.
Improvement of Houses
A pilot survey was undertaken in April, 1963, in order to assess the interest
of owners and occupiers in the grants which are available to improve existing houses
by providing the modern amenities,
A typical road comprising 89 houses was visited, but in 23 cases it was not
possible to gain access or to interview the occupiers. The remaining 66 houses were
inspected and the improvement grant schemes explained to the householders. 16 houses
had all the amenities present although in 8 cases the W.C. was readily accessible
outside. With one exception these were owned by the occupiers and 5 had received
improvement grants.
The following is a summary of the facilities lacking in the remaining 53 houses:-
Fixed bath in a bathroom 3 9
Wash hand basin 44
Hot water supply 40
Ventilated food store 18
Internal W.C. 46
14 tenants and 5 owner occupiers expressed a qualified interest in the possibility
of improvements being carried out with the aid of grant. Some of the reasons
advanced by householders who did not want improvements carried out were; -
Unwillingness to pay extra rent
Inability to spare room for conversion into bathroom
Pensioners who did not want to bother
Possibility of moving to other accommodation