HOUSE PURCHASE DEPARTMENT:
THE ASSISTED HOUSE PURCHASE SCHEME
(continued)
Summary of Recommendations:
(1) That the Bank, Finance and Estates Committees be recommended to approve and adopt the Scheme
set out in Part 1 (A) of the foregoing Report with respect to the procedure upon the purchase of Municipal Houses with the assistance
of the Municipal Bank.
(2) That the Bank, Finance and Estates Committees be recommended to approve and adopt the scheme set out
in Part 1 (B) of the foregoing Report in regard to the procedure for dealing with applications for the purchase of Municipal Houses.
(3)
the Bank, Finance and Estates Committees be recommended to agree that except in cases where defects in construction of Municipal Houses
have been proved to exist, and subject to the recommendations contained in the Report regarding exceptional cases, the repurchase
of Municipal Houses by the Corporation shall be discountenanced.
(4) That, as it is considered that the special low deposit facilities
allowed to the original purchaser of Municipal Houses should also be made applicable to second purchasers on resale, the Bank, Finance
and Estates Committees be recommended to approve the principle of granting (to the extent and on the conditions indicated in the foregoing
Report) augmented advances to such second purchasers in approved cases.
(5) That the Estates Committee be recommended, in cases
where Municipal Houses have been repurchased and it is considered desirable that the occupiers should continue to be accommodated
in Corporation Houses, to instruct that arrangements be made for the tenants to be transferred to houses allocated for letting.
(6)
That the foregoing Report of the Joint Conference be approved and that the Bank, Estates and Finance Committees be recommended to
adopt the procedure indicated in regard to the matters therein mentioned.
The two forms designed by the Town Clerk were very large
in both length and width. The following is a representation of the questions required to be answered by a potential purchaser:
FORM
A - INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM THE APPLICANT
PURCHASE OF MUNICIPAL HOUSES.
(This form must be sent to the General Manager of the
Estates Department, Moat Lane, Birmingham.)
Name of Applicant (in full) ....
Note: If the application is made in the name of a
married woman the full names of the husband are also required.
___________________________________
Name of Applicant ....
Name of Applicant's
wife ....
___________________________________
Have you ever owned or occupied a house under the Birmingham Corporation?
If so, give particulars.
How
long have you lived in Birmingham?
How long have you worked in Birmingham?
___________________________________
Are you the owner, tenant
or lodger at the above address?
If you are the owner of a house, why do you wish to purchase a Municipal house?
If you are the tenant
of a Municipal house, why do you wish to leave?
___________________________________
Are you married, single, divorced, or widower?
If
you are single, do you contemplate marriage before entering into occupation?
___________________________________
Occupation.
___________________________________
Name
and Address of Employer.
Work No (if any)
___________________________________
What is your present income?
Is this the amount of your
salary? If not, give details.
___________________________________
Have you any, or do you anticipate contracting any outlay necessitating
a weekly payment in addition to house purchase?
___________________________________
Do you wish to purchase a parlour or non-parlour
type house?
What district do you wish to reside in?
___________________________________
What amount of cash can you find towards the
purchase price?
Would this be borrowed money?
___________________________________
Is a loan for the balance required from the Birmingham
Municipal Bank?
Over what period do you wish to spread the loan? Maximum allowed, 20 years.
___________________________________
If so,
the following questions must be answered.
Are you a depositor in the Bank? ___________________________________
State Bank Book No___________________________________
Date
account opened___________________________________
Branch where account is kept___________________________________
If you are not a depositor
steps must be taken to become one, and the questions then answered.
___________________________________
Do you have any children, state
ages and sex
Boys
Girls
___________________________________
Have you previously applied to the Estates Department for the tenancy of a
house?
If so, what is your registered number
______________________________________________________________________
I hereby undertake
and agree that when in response to this application a house in course of construction or otherwise is set aside for me and in consideration
of the same I will pay forthwith a first deposit of Three Guineas to the Estates Department of the Corporation, it being fully understood
and agreed by me that in the event of my failing to sign Form B attached hereto when required so to do by the Corporation and to observe
in all things the terms and conditions of Form B, the said sum of Three Guineas will be forfeited and will become the property of
the Corporation. I further understand that if I wish not to proceed with this transaction and refuse accordingly to sign Form B when
required so to do I shall be required to make no payment over and above the said sum of Three Guineas.
Signature ...........................................................
Date
.............................................
FORM B - CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. PURCHASE OF MUNICIPAL HOUSES.
AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE
PURCHASE
OF MUNICIPAL HOUSES.
(This form is not to be filled up in any way until the applicant is requested to do so by the Estates Department.)
TO THE CORPORATION OF BIRMINGHAM.
IN CONSIDERATION of your having handed to me the keys and let me into possession of the premises No , I having paid to you the sum of £ by way of deposit together with stamp duty amounting to £ I hereby undertake and agree with you as follows:
(1) To purchase from you the said premises for the sum of £ by way of lease for 99 years at a ground rent of £ .
(2) Within 12 months from the date hereof to execute a counterpart of the lease from you to me of the said premises and also a mortgage
from me to you to secure the amount to be advanced by the Birmingham Municipal Bank such documents to be prepared by the Town Clerk
and to be in the form which have been produced to me.
(3) Upon the Monday in every week following the date hereof until actual completion to
pay a further deposit of £ per week out of which I understand is to be paid by me in addition to the ground rent payable under the lease interest at the rate
of Five pounds per centum per annum on the balance of the purchase money outstanding such payment to be computed from the date hereof
up to the date of actual completion.
(4) In the event of my failing to pay regularly to your satisfaction the said further deposits
of
£ per week:
(a)
to quit and give up possession to you of the said premises when required by you so to do;
(b) to forfeit to you out of the said deposit
plus the said further deposits the legal costs incurred by you together with further costs of Two Guineas to your Estates Department
and the like sum to your Municipal Bank Department together with a sum equivalent to the rates (including water rate) ground rent
insurance on purchase money and cost repairing damage (if any) to the said premises which have accrued during my occupation of the
said premises the balance of the said deposit plus the further deposits together with stamp duty being returned to me.
I understand
that upon actual completion by my executing the said documents I shall not be charged any costs by you and that I shall have returned
to me out of the further deposits of £
weekly referred to above the sum (if any) remaining
after deduction of a sum equivalent to ground rent interest on purchase money and insurance.
Signed ....................................6d
stamp .........................
Date............................................
House Purchase Sub-Committee: March 14th 1927
On Minute No 42
(5 Greenock Crescent, Kings Heath - Mortgagor P J C Duckett) the Sub-Committee were informed that this was a case in which the applicant
for an advance on a Corporation house had been given possession of the property by the Estates Department before the Bank had decided
to make an advance. It appeared that the income of the applicant was below the amount indicated in the scale adopted, and the matter
had accordingly been brought before the Sub-Committee for decision. The Sub-Committee discussed the matter at some length and (after
an amendment had been put and negatived that the application should only be granted on the understanding that in the event of the
applicant being unable to keep up his payments the Estates Committee would indemnify the Bank against any possible loss) it was:
79 RESOLVED:- (With two dissentients, Alderman Sir P Bower and Councillor Gelling) that the application be acceded to.
The General
Manager called attention to a complaint which had been received from the mortgagor of property No 63, Bramley Road, Acocks Green,
with regard to the condition of the property.
97 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager
be instructed to take the matter up with the City Surveyor with a view to a report being furnished in regard thereto.
House Purchase
Sub-Committee: April 11th 1927
On Minute No 97 (63, Bramley Road, Acock's Green) the General Manager stated that with regard
to the question of the defect complained of by the Borrower (Mr Stevenson) the City Surveyor had intimated that the trouble was due
to the linoleum having been laid down before the floor was properly dry, and that the only indication of damp was a slight discolouration
in the back sitting room. Mr Stevenson had accordingly been requested to communicate direct with the City Surveyor should he have
any further complaint to make.
105 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 97 be discharged.
The General Manager
presented the following report with regard to certain applications for advances in respect of Municipal houses which had received
special consideration by the Chairman and Mr Councillor Kenning, the Chairman of the Estates Committee:
An interview has recently
taken place between Councillor Lovsey and Councillor Kenning regarding certain cases which present difficulties to both Committees,
and after full consideration of these cases by Councillor Cooper and the General Manager it has been decided to act as indicated below:
A
G Gouch
A Mortgage is in force in respect of No 8 Denham Road, Acocks Green. The Mortgagor has paid £19 in reduction of his loan and
a deposit of £21. Estates Department have agreed to re-purchase on the understanding that Mr Gough will buy a brick built house. It
has now been agreed for him to purchase Fox Green Crescent, Acocks Green, and the amount repaid to be used as a deposit towards such
purchase.
E. Troy
This man is a Grocer's traveller earning £3. 10. -d. per week, and wishes to get married at Easter. He has purchased
most of his furniture and possesses War Savings Certificates to the value of £12. 10. -d. His intended wife has a Costumier's business
at Small Heath and proposes to continue such business after marriage. She states she can earn as much as £3 per week in certain seasons.
Agreed
to grant an advance in the usual way, but if it is later found that the man cannot keep up his repayments the Estates Department to
re-purchase and transfer him elsewhere.
T H Willmore, Junior
This man is a carpenter and joiner, earning £3. 10. -d. per week
and wants to get married as soon as he can get a house. Has £3 in Duddeston Branch. Altogether he and his intended wife possess £73,
out of which the deposit on the house will have to be paid and a portion of the furniture purchased. It had been suggested to Willmore
that he should find a surety. The agreement form with Estates Department which entitles him to a house has been signed. Agreed that
an advance should be made, but if he gets into trouble with his repayments the Estates Department to re-purchase and transfer him
elsewhere.
C J O'Leary
This man is a show-room attendant earning £1. 10. -, per week; has a pension of £1. -. -. per week, and
receives £1. 10. -d. per week as rent from two sisters. Keys of the house, No 15 Fox Grove were handed to him on 6th December, 1926.
Agreed to grant the advance but if he gets into difficulties with his repayments the Estates Department to re-purchase and transfer
him elsewhere.
Mrs M Luckett
This woman is a widow and receives £1 per week as a grant from Luckett & Son, Market Lane, Pershore
Street. Two sons reside with her and pay her £1. 1. -. each per week. Keys of the house were handed over on 18th November 1926. Agreed
to grant the advance but if she gets into difficulties with her repayments the Estates Department to re-purchase and transfer her
elsewhere.
E George
This man is a tester at the Lanchester Motor Company and earns £2. 16. 6. weekly, plus 9/- per week overtime.
Has a premises (general shop) in Alfred Street, Sparkbrook, which he at one time intended to sell, but has now decided to retain.
Has two children aged 9 years and 12 years. Estimates the profits from the shop to be £1 per week. Keys of the house handed over on
22nd December, 1926. Agreed to make the advance but if he gets into difficulties with his repayments the Estates Department to re-purchase
and transfer him elsewhere.
After discussion, it was:
Bank Committee: April 25th 1927
With
reference to applications for advances on Corporation houses in respect of which possession had either been granted or agreed, the
Committee were informed that the Estates Department had been communicated with in the matter and it was understood that they would
agree, except in the cases of E Troy and T H Willmore, Junior, to the proposed condition of the granting of advances. It was accordingly:
2669 RESOLVED:- That on the understanding that the Estates Committee are willing, in the event of the under-mentioned Borrowers falling
into arrear with their repayments, to repurchase the properties and transfer such Borrowers elsewhere, the appropriate advances for
the purchase of Municipal Houses be sanctioned in respect of the properties in question.
|
Name. |
Property. |
|
O'Leary, D J |
15 Fox Grove,
Acocks Green |
|
Windridge, W S |
36 Brent Road, Kings Heath |
|
Shuttleworth, W H |
12 Pemberley Road, Acocks Green |
|
Luckett, Mrs M |
10 Pemberley Road,
Acocks Green |
|
George, B |
7 Fox Green Crescent, Acocks Green |
Bank Committee: June 20th 1927
2721 The Town Clerk reported
to the Committee upon the cases of A S Slater (property, 24 Flavells Lane) and J H Stirk (Property, 143 Court Lane, Erdington) in
regard to which matters reference had been made at the meeting of the House Purchase Sub-Committee held on the 30th ultimo.
The
Town Clerk explained that in the case of A S Slater the instruction to proceed had been rescinded by the Estates Committee on the
15th February last and he had been informed that a communication dated the 9th March, 1927, to that effect had been sent by the Estates
Department to the Municipal Bank. The General Manager stated, however, that he had had a careful search made in his department and
no trace could be found of the communication in question ever having been received, and that he had no reason to assume other than
the matter was proceeding.
In the case of J H Stirk, where a complaint of delay in completion of the mortgage had been received,
the Town Clerk explained that the root of title given in the Abstract of Title received from the Borrower's solicitors being a marriage
settlement, was unsatisfactory and that Mr Stirk was incorrect in stating that the particulars given had been accepted previously
by building societies and other bodies as sufficient title.
2722 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be directed
to send a communication to Mr Stirk, pointing out that the statement contained in his letter was incorrect having regard to the circumstances
above mentioned.
2723 The Chairman stated that in his opinion some improvement might still be effected in the method
whereby cancellations and other like matters could be promptly brought to the notice of the Bank by the Estates Department, and it
was proposed that this should be one of the matters for discussion at a conference on house purchase, which it has been decided should
be called in the near future.