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HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Statutory authority to require improvement in houses occupied by persons of more than
one family, was given for the first time by the Housing Act, 1961 in respect of the following
matters:-
Natural and artificial lighting
Ventilation
Water supply
Personal washing facilities
Drainage and sanitary conveniences
Facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal
of waste water
Installations for space heating or for the use of space heating appliances.
The Act also allows the Council to restrict the number of persons who may occupy the
house, having in mind the amenities provided. Such a direction does not require the eviction of
any person, but provides that where tenants leave, the accommodation shall not be re-let should
this bring the number of occupants above a limit set by the Council. The Housing Act of 1964
made some amendments for the easier working of the Act of 1961.
The Council has approved a minimum standard for the amenities to be provided and
this is set out in Appendix table 8.
Whilst many houses in the Borough are in multiple occupation, some no longer belong
to this category by their conversion into self-contained dwellings and others have been provided
with all the necessary amenities; yet many remain in which the amenities fall below the acceptable
minimum standard. The selection of areas for routine inspections depended largely upon what
was known of the future of the houses. In the former Borough of St. Pancras a survey was made
by consultants, and areas were mapped out which were suitable (a) for demolition and redevelopment
and (b) for rehabilitation. It is in the latter areas that routine inspections are carried out.
In the former Borough of Hampstead it was known that certain areas were to be redeveloped either
privately or by the Council; these were excluded from the routine inspection; the roads selected
for routine inspection were those known to be composed mainly of houses in multiple occupation
which had inadequate amenities. These were mainly, but by no means exclusively, in the Kilburn
area.
It was felt that even in areas which were to be redeveloped, the lack of amenities
should not be ignored, and in general the action taken depended on the length of time that the
fc juses were likely to be occupied, general rules being:-
(i) that no improvements would be insisted upon where a house was to be
demolished within 2V2 years;
(ii) that the improvements required in houses lasting for between 2V2 and 5 years
should be limited to those not requiring structural alterations;
(iii) that where a house was likely to be occupied for 5 years or more the full
standard of improvements would be required.
Usually, following a detailed inspection of a house in multiple occupation, the owner
is sent an informal notice setting out the powers and duties of the Council and giving a list of
the additional amenities which should be provided. This is simpler and speedier than the issue
of formal notices but depends upon the co-operation of the owners and, to some extent on that
of the tenants. It has however been remarkably successful in the majority of cases. Where owners
have not co-operated formal notices have been served.
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