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It will thus be seen that in the two hundred and sixty-one
houses inspected in detail, overcrowding was found to exist to the
extent of nine adults and eight children. This reveals a satisfactory
state of affairs in the area concerned.
(b) The difficulty with regard to overcrowding in the Borough
as a whole is two-fold.
There is a general shortage of houses, more especially of the
working class type. This applies at the moment to nearly all
urban areas. In addition there is the economic difficulty in the
case of a large number of people who are unable to afford the
rent of an entire house for the accommodation of themselves
and their families. Many of these people (especially those who
are unemployed or partially employed) are only able to afford
the rent of part of a house. Consequently two and three
families not infrequently live in the same house.
The economic factor is undoubtedly of great importance.
It is responsible to a large extent for the concentration of the
overcrowding to certain areas in the district.
(4) Fitness of Houses.
(a) No difficulties have been experienced during the year
in taking action under the Public Health Acts in dealing with
housing conditions. Only in two instances was action taken
under Sections 17, 18, and 23 of the Housing Act of 1930. In
these cases the work was carried out by the owner.
(b) It has not been necessary to adopt any special measures
for the purpose of dealing with insanitary property. Speaking
generally, house property in Wimbledon is of a very satisfactory
type. Sanitary defects are dealt with as they "arise under the
Public Health Acts."
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