London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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47
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
The preparation of this report has been delayed purposely in order that the question of
housing accommodation in the Borough might be reviewed in the light of the knowledge gained
from the 1921 Census figures.
Unfortunately, owing to the coal strike, it was found necessary to postpone the taking of the
Census until June, with the result that the figures relating to population, number of houses, etc.,
will not be available sufficiently early to enable the report to be issued within a reasonable time
after the close of the year to which it relates. I have decided, therefore, to submit at present only
a few known facts relating to the housing problem and to leave a complete survey (including a
consideration of the general housing conditions in the district, the extent of the shortage of houses,
the extent of overcrowding, the fitness of existing houses, etc.) to be submitted in a future special
report. When up to date and accurate figures of population, houses, etc. are available, more
valuable conclusions can be drawn than would be possible at the present moment, when the
Census figures of 10 years ago are the most recent reliable data on which to work.
LODGINGS PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL.

The number of tenements for the working classes provided, prior to the War, by the Council, under the Housing Acts, is shown in the following Table:—

Rooms in Tenement.Number of Tenements.Rent per Week.
1263/1 to 4/7
2627/- to 9/-
3329/- to 10/6
Totals1203/1 to 10/6

The above tenements are all within the Borough.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
The number of houses let in lodgings on the Council's register at the end of the year was
2,067. The effect of registration is to render the premises subject to the requirements of the
Council's Bye-Laws made under Section 94 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, as extended
by Section 16 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc. Act, 1909.
The inspections and re-inspections of the registered lodging houses in the Borough numbered
4,921. Notices requiring the remedy of defects found were served in 429 instances, and 21 cases
of overcrowding were abated. The owners of four lodging houses were summoned for breaches of
the lodging house bye-laws, or failure to carry out sanitary works required by the Inspectors.
Houses Let in Furnished Rooms.—Of the 2,067 lodging houses on the Council's Register,
101 were in 1920 let in furnished rooms, the average rent charged being at the rate of 7/- per week
per room.
The following figures show the number of houses let in furnished rooms in the different parts
of the Borough.
Norland Ward 63
St. Charles Ward 4
Pembridge Ward 18
Golborne Ward 16
Other Wards 0
101
These houses constitute the most unsatisfactory and undesirable form of housing accommodation
and it is therefore very pleasing to note that the number of dwellings of this type in the
Borough is gradually diminishing. In 1912 there were 187, no less than 103 being in the Notting
Dale area. The total number of inspections of these houses in 1920 was 975.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
The Common Lodging Houses in the Borough number 13, and contain accommodation for
467 persons. From the following Table it will be seen that all but one of these houses are
situated in the Norland Ward:—