HOUSE PURCHASE DEPARTMENT:
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Scheme to Encourage the Creation of Flatlets
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In July 1948, Birmingham Corporation's Estates Committee approved a scheme to invite owners of under-occupied properties to convert
them into flatlets, thus assisting in providing more accommodation available for rental. The scheme envisaged loans being made to
facilitate the conversion. In order to attract participants in the scheme, the Estates Committee wished to advertise the scheme intimating
that the BMB, as well as a number of Building Societies, were to participate as lenders in the scheme. The Ministry of Health, however,
would not consent to the cost of advertising being charged to the Housing Rent Account, and the Estates Committee decided that
they would advertise the proposal at the expense of the Corporation funds.
In order to clarify the position, Councillor Cooper
interviewed the General Manager of the Estates Department on the 29th September. Councillor Cooper expressed the opinion that the
advertisements to have any chance of success must be officially sponsored by the Estates Committee. To overcome the difficulty, he
agreed to recommend to the Bank Committee that a maximum amount of £50 be granted to the Estates Committee on the following conditions:
(a) that the Estates Committee undertook the publicity campaign; and (b) that the Building Societies fund the balance of the cost
of advertising.
In November 1948, the General Manager reported that he had received a letter from the General Manager of the
Estates Department (1) stating that he had received a cheque for £150 representing contributions by 15 out of 22 Building Societies
towards the cost of advertising the scheme and (2) enclosing for approval of the Bank the advertisement to be inserted in the Press
by the Estates Department.
However, little interest was shown for the scheme, as shown by a letter received by the Bank in March
1949:
City of Birmingham Estates Department,
19-29 Summer Row
Birmingham 3
Please quote: SC/97/9
10th March, 1949.
H Carver
Esq, FLAA,
General Manager,
Birmingham Municipal Bank,
Broad Street,
Birmingham, 1
Dear Sir,
Conversion of houses into flats.
Further
to my letter of the 14th February last, four advertisements have now appeared in the Press regarding the above scheme, and twelve
enquiries have resulted therefrom. Most of the enquiries were received following the publicity first given to the scheme, and further
advertisements have brought little response.
I understand from Miss Mackie, Secretary of the Birmingham & Five Counties Architectural
Association, that she has received a similar number of enquiries.
I shall be glad to receive your observations as to whether,
having regard to the business which may have resulted to the Bank in consequence thereof, you consider it advisable to continue to
advertise the scheme.
My own view is that the Rent Control Bill now before Parliament, together with the recently announced scheme
for improving privately owned property, with the benefit of State aid, will undoubtedly have an adverse effect upon the above scheme.
Expenses
incurred in advertising, amount to £16. 14. 0d. and if it is decided not to continue publicity, I suggest the cost is apportioned
as follows:
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Building Societies |
12. 10. 6d |
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Municipal Bank |
4. 3. 6d |
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Total |
£16. 14. 0d. |
The Committee were of the opinion that no further useful purpose would be served by continuing to advertise this scheme, and agreed to
remit the sum of £4. 3. 6d. being the amount of advertising expenses apportioned to the Bank.