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61
each within a separate compartment for every ten persons irrespective of age.
Provided that sanitary accommodation shall be deemed insufficient if it fails
to provide a minimum of one water-closet for every two separate lettings or
two or more rooms or for every three separate single room lettings.
(f) Facilities for Storage, Preparation and Cooking of Food Facilities for
the storage, preparation and cooking of food shall be provided and maintained
in the room or one of the rooms in the separate occupation of each family, or
individual as the case may be, except where meals are provided by the person
having control of the premises and are taken in a common dining room. Such
facilities shall include an adequate food storage cupboard directly ventilated
to the external air or a fixed refrigerator, and a suitable and sufficient
appliance for cooking food, including an oven or grill, heated by gas,
electricity or solid fuel.
(g) Installations for Space Heating In each letting there shall be an
approved appliance capable of burning efficiently any of the solid fuels
authorised for the purposes of the Clean Air Act, 1956, or an adequate number
of suitable points to which electric or gas space heating appliances with
adequate ventilation where necessary can be attached. Where a solid fuel
fired appliance is in use, then adequate fuel storage facilities reasonably
accessible to the letting shall be provided and maintained.
(h) Provision of Means of Escape from Fire A house in multiple occupation
shall be provided with such means of escape from fire as the Council after
consultation with the Greater London Council, considers necessary.
(i) Refuse and Litter There shall be provided and maintained such number
of covered dustbins for the reception of house refuse of such material, size
and construction as the Council may approve."
It is the policy of this Council to give a Direction on houses where this
Department is notified by the Housing Department and the Greater London Council
that rehousing is to take place. In addition other Directions are given upon
the recommendation of the Public Health Inspector as part of his routine
duties. During the year a total of 152 houses occupied by more than 1 family
were inspected. In certain instances action leading to the giving of a
Direction was taken. In all a total of 177 Directions were given. Legal
proceedings in respect of contraventions of Directions were instituted in
respect of 9 cases.
It may be appropriate to mention here that it is not always possible to
serve a Direction Notice within the statutory time limit and this means that
the facts have to be re-submitted to the Health Committee.
VARIATION OF DIRECTIONS
A local authority may at any time, having regard to any works which have
been executed in the houses, or any other change of circumstances, upon
application, revoke or vary a Direction. During the year 20 Directions were
varied and 1 revoked.
These figures bear little or no relationship to the vast amount of work
this important legislation has thrust upon the Department.
HOUSING ACT, 1964
The Housing Act, 1964, provides, inter alia, for the compulsory improvement
of dwellings if the Council is satisfied that the area consists of
dwellings at least one half of which lack one or more of the standard amenities.