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nuisance. The numbers of persons desiring accommodation on
the register at the end of the year was, as follows:—
Desiring Willing to go to
local London County
accommodation Council Estates
Overcrowded families 570 170
Other families (not
overcrowded) 212 270
Total 782 440
This figure does not seem very large, but it represents only a
portion of the total number of overcrowded families in the
Borough, which as far as we are able to ascertain now number
about 2,000, even adopting the somewhat low standard of the
London County Council.
Another point of importance requires comment. As a
result of its attempts to improve these conditions the Council has
become a property owner on a considerable scale. Each house or
flat purchased, reconstructed or built, becomes a liability entailing
additional work. The property must be regularly inspected, and
maintained in good condition; complaints have to be dealt with
and innumerable small details require attention. Without
assuming the role of a prophet, it seems likely that the work of the
Department in this connection must steadily increase and that
eventually additional staff for the purpose will be required. With
regard to houses let in lodgings, there are at present 223 such
properties on our register. The conditions in some of these
houses are very unsatisfactory, but our powers in this connection
are limited. Only a few of the London County Council Bye-laws
are at present in force. Briefly those which relate to the "lodger,"
and refer to questions of cleanliness are at present in force, but
those which relate to the "owner" and "tenant" do not come
into force until after the removal of the Rent Restriction Act.
Consequently it is, in many cases, impossible to secure desirable
improvements, such as the provision of proper lighting for staircases,
of proper water supply and so on. It is frankly admitted