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Briefly, the Camden scheme requires that the annual repayments must not exceed one
quarter of the gross income of the borrower, a married couple's income being considered jointly.
Applicants must occupy at least one-third of a dwelling of three storeys or more, and one half
of those of two storeys. Loans are normally made only for property within the Borough but consideration
is given to property elsewhere in the following cases:-
(a) Occupiers being displaced by compulsory purchase;
(b) Members of the Council's staff
(c) Council tenants.
Nobody may obtain a loan before reaching the age of 21 years. The maximum period of
a loan is 30 years, and completion must be made before the borrower is 65 years of age. The
number of loans for house purchase made by the Council in 1965 was 262 and the total amount
of the loans was £1,094,910.
HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
HOUSING ACT, 1957-SECTION 119
This section allows local authorities to assist bona fide housing associations to provide
dwellings by means of the conversion of houses or other dwellings, and to alter, enlarge, repair
or improve dwellings. The standard of fitness of property so provided follows the pattern described
under Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957.
Recently there has been a considerable increase in the number of applications received.
One advantage of people forming themselves into housing associations is that they can
borrow money from local authorities during periods of restriction; furthermore, the loan may be
spread over as long as 60 years. In all cases the consent of the Ministry has to be obtained before
the grant of such an advance.
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
DISCRETIONARY GRANTS
These grants (introduced under the Housing Act, 1949) are available for a wide range
of improvements (not repairs or renewals), and for providing new accommodation by converting
into self-contained flats, houses or buildings erected before 1948. To qualify for grant the cost
attributable to each dwelling must not be less than £100. The maximum grant permissible is
normally £400 per dwelling or £500 where it is for conversion of a 3 or more storey dwelling
into self-contained flats. Such grants are payable solely at the discretion of the local authority,
and the amount can not be more than 50 per cent, of the total cost involved.
The qualifications to obtain a grant are:-
(a) the dwelling must be self-contained;
(b) the applicant must own the freehold or have at least 15 years' unexpired
lease to run;
(c) on completion the house must conform to the fixed twelve-point standard
set out on page 21.
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