ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the powers of local authorities in relation to the clearance of old houses, and discusses slum clearance policies, programmes and achievements. As the slum clearance programme progresses it can be expected that the lack of a water-closet will come to be regarded as a sufficient cause of unfitness. A local authority has a duty to inspect the houses in their district ‘from time to time’ in order to ascertain whether any houses are unfit. If the local authority consider that an unfit house cannot be made fit at reasonable expense they can make a demolition or a closing order. Unfit houses which were purchased by the occupiers between September 1,1939, and December 13,1955, receive special compensation. Inadequate housing can thus be dealt with either because of the unfitness of the individual houses or because of the bad arrangement of houses in an area.
