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The Urban District is often regarded as being comprised largely of
modern owner-occupier houses but this is not strictly true. There is a
widespread area of older property in the northern part of the district
and the Smoke Control Surveys are revealing that quite a proportion of
the more modern houses are rented. In Morden Ward (developed between
the wars) excluding Council Houses and the Haig Homes Estate, some 176
houses or approximately 6% were rented from private owners.
The resumption of house-to-house inspections merits a high priority
when circumstances permit.
Moveable Dwellings. No application was received for licence to
station a caravan in the district.
Overcrowding
The position with regard to statutory overcrowding is still reasonably
satisfactory. One case was discovered during the year in addition to the five
previous cases. All the occupiers affected were applicants for Council
Houses under consideration by your Housing Department.
Certificates of Disrepair.
Under the 1957 revision of the Rent Act, two applications for certificates
were received and granted by the end of the year. One was revoked
in the same period, the necessary work having been completed.
Thirteen houses were still subject to Certificates of Disrepair although
in many instances the tenants are paying the full rent even where the work
covered by the Certificate has not been done. The continuing decrease in
applications appears to some extent to be due to a mistaken belief that the
procedure only applied directly after the 1957 Act was passed. Occupiers
complaining of disrepair are advised of the legal position by the Inspectors
in suitable cases.
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