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18
On the 3rd November, Kingsley House was formally opened by
the Mayor, and the tenancies of this house commenced on the 7th
November, 18 months having elapsed since the commencement of the
work on the foundations (tenders for foundations accepted by the
Borough Council on 22nd April, 1903), and 15 months having elapsed
since the commencement of the work on the superstructure (tenders for
superstructure accepted by the Borough Council on the 22nd July,
1903). Burleigh House was ready for occupation on the 14th
November, and Cadogan House on the 19th December. Winchester
and Dacre Houses were opened respectively on the 16th January,
1905, and the 6th February, 1905.
The tenements in all the houses have been very quickly taken up
by a good class of tenants, and there can be no doubt that the Sir
Thomas More Buildings offer accommodation of a kind, which is not
easily obtainable elsewhere, and at rents of a moderate nature.
A resident superintendent and two resident porters have been
appointed to the Buildings, the former with a salary of 30s. per week,
with three rooms, an office, gas, and uniform, and the latter with
salaries of 24s. per week, with two rooms, gas, and uniform.
The Buildings have been insured for a total sum of £42,000 in the
Alliance Assurance Co., Ltd., with an additional sum of £2,380 for
6 months rent of the Buildings.
No charge is made to the tenants for the use of the baths, dryingroom,
or hot-water (urn) room.
Onslow Dwellings.
The result of the first year's working (31st March, 1903, to 31st
March, 1904) was most satisfactory. The rents and deposits received
amounted to £1,456, the full letting value of the entire premises being
only £1,427. The total income from the Dwellings for the year was
£1,462 5s. 9d., and the outgoings (rates and taxes, gas, water, insurance,
salary of rent collector, wages, printing and stationery, and repairs)
amounted to £691 1s. 4d. Of this amount £135 was a special
expenditure incurred for replacing worn-out kitchen ranges in a
majority of the tenements. Deducting this item, the outgoings were
only £556 1s. 1d. or 38 per cent. of the gross rental, which is a fair
figure, having regard to the fact that this was the first year of the
Council's management, and that the Dwellings required considerable
repairs to bring them up to a proper standard of tenantable condition.
The interest on loans and the instalments of loans repaid amounted
to £1,025 7s. 7d., so that the balance of loss on working was a charge
on the general rate of £254 3s. 2d., equivalent to a rate of 0.08d. in
£1 on the rateable value of the Borough.
Nos. 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, Pond Place.
During the year negotiations were undertaken and carried through
for the purchase of the leasehold interests in these houses, and the
obtaining of vacant possession, for the sum of £535.