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HOUSING ACT, 1936—OVERCROWDING.
The following was the position at the end of 1938 in
relation to overcrowding:—
(a) (i) Number of dwellings overcrowded at the end
of the year 1953
(ii) Number of families dwelling therein 1,953
(iii) Number of persons dwelling therein 11,647
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding rereported
during the year 311
(c) (i) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved
during the year 931
(ii) Number of persons concerned in such cases 5,177
(d) No cases came to my notice during 1938 of dwelling
houses again becoming overcrowded after the Local Authority
had taken steps for the abatement of overcrowding.
(e) Five cases of overcrowding were reported, in which I
considered it necessary to take action. In two of these cases
the accommodation offered had been refused. Notices under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, were served in four
instances, and one Summons was taken out in connection
with a serious case, the tenant being rehoused finally by the
Borough Council.
As the appointed day, under the Housing Act, 1936, was
fixed for October Ist, 1938, no further action has been
taken in consequence, although another one of the families
concerned has removed to other premises and abated the
overcrowding.
Thirty-eight cases of overcrowding in London County
Council dwellings in Bermondsey have been abated, and
nineteen cases in Borough Council dwellings; 136 cases
have been relieved in connection with slum clearance operations.
These cases are included in (c) (i) above.