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36
HOUSING
The Government White Paper "Houses-The Next Step", presented to Parliament
in November, 1953, outlined proposals for dealing with the housing situation
which had arisen as a result of the deterioration in the condition of houses
due to shortage of materials and labour during the war and the immediate postwar
years, and also, in more recent years, to the high cost of building and
repairs. In the White Paper existing houses are divided into four classes:-
(i) The best - the great mass of essentially sound houses, many of which
are in good condition, and all of which the landlords could be
expected to keep in good condition given a reasonable rent. This in
many cases must mean some increase in rent.
(ii) The worst-the slum houses which ought to be demolished as soon as
circumstances permit. Only a proportion can be pulled down and
replaced in the next five years. Since the rest must, of necessity,
remain in use, they should at least be patched up in order to make
life more tolerable for their occupants.
(iii) An intermediate class - the "dilapidated" houses - some of which may
be brought into the first class by their owners, others of which
local authorities may have to get repaired in all essentials by
greater use of their statutory powers,
(iv) Houses which could give years of good service if they were improved
that is to say provided with bathrooms, hot water, up-to-date cooking
arrangements and other necessary amenities; also houses too big for
present-day needs which could be converted into good, comfortable
flats.
The proposals put forward envisage the demolition of slum houses, the
repair of dilapidated houses, with, in the case of those subject to rent control,
a compensating increase in rent, and the improvement or conversion of
houses lending themselves to such action, with the assistance of grants, With
regard to the latter, it was proposed that some easing of the qualifying conditions
which were embodied in the Housing Act, 1949, would be necessary.
HOUSING REPAIRS AND RENTS ACT, 1954
This Act, which provides the statutory powers needed to implement the
proposals made in the White Paper, came into operation on the 30th August. The
Act is in three parts -
PART I
(Further provisions as to clearance and redevelopment, reconditioning
of unfit houses, and other amendments of Housing Acts)
The following notes on the principal sections of this part of the Act with
which the Public Health Department is concerned are taken from the Ministry of
Housing and Local Government circular 55/54:-
SECTION 1 (Proposals for exercise of functions of local authorities as to
clearance areas, etc.) requires local authorities to submit to the Minister
proposals for dealing with unfit houses in their district. Their proposals
must be in a form specified by the Minister and must be submitted by 30th
August, 1955, unless, exceptionally, the Minister extends the period. The
Minister may approve the proposals with or without modifications, and the local
authority must have regard to the approved proposals in carrying out the
statutory provisions concerning unfit houses.
A local authority may at any time submit supplementary proposals and must
do so if required by the Minister.
A copy of the approved proposals - whether first or supplementary - must
be deposited at the offices of the local authority, and be open to inspection
without charge.