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58
It cannot be disputed that at the present time in Chelsea, as in other
Metropolitan Boroughs, there is considerable dearth of accommodation
both for the working classes, and for the classes in receipt of small salaries
or earnings, and that, as elsewhere, this situation is primarily due to the
restrictions imposed upon the building trades during the war and the
economic disturbances which have succeeded it.
It will, however, be evident from the details already given that the
existing shortage of housing accommodation in Chelsea is being most
adequately dealt with and that the extremely difficult problems which
confronted the Borough Council subsequent to the war are gradually
being overcome. In this connection the invaluable services rendered
by the former Mayor (Mr. Alderman C. B. Clapcott, O.B.E.), and the
late Chairman of the Housing Committee (Mr. Councillor E. B. Baggallay)
will always be remembered with appreciation in the municipality.
Overcrowding.—Overcrowding, where it exists, is mainly confined
to the western district of the Borough. This conclusion is based partly
on house.to.house inspections of the area and partly on applications
submitted for alternate housing accommodation. There has been some
little improvement in its prevalence during the year. Many of the cases
when approached as to the desirability of having their names submitted
to the County Council, with a view to provision of housing on one of the
Council's Estates, decline to consider the proposition, on the ground that
the distance of the Comity Council's Estates from their work is too great.
Others have become attached to the district and will not contemplate
forsaking existing interests and associations. Owing to the extreme
difficulty of finding alternative accommodation it has not been found
practicable to deal with more than a proportion of the cases of over—
crowding during the year. Whenever possible, arrangements are made
with the London County Council for the provision of a house for the
overcrowded family. Forty.two such families obtained accommodation on
the Council's Estates during the year. Further, when vacant tenements
become available in the Borough Council's dwellings preferential treat—
ment is as far as possible given to cases of overcrowding. With a view to
preventing a recurrence of overcrowding in premises which are being
vacated because of their overcrowded condition, a cautionary letter is
always sent to the landlord concerned, warning him that action will be
taken against him in the event of a recurrence of overcrowded conditions
in the premises.
Fitness of Houses.—The general standard of housing in the Borough
is satisfactory. There has been a very definite improvement in housing
conditions during the past five years. The vast majority of houses have
an adequate internal water supply and adequate sanitary accommodation
within their own curtilage. The constant vigilance of the Sanitary
Inspectors has impressed upon both owners and tenants their determina—
tion that every dwelling house shall be maintained in a reasonable state
of repair and that there shall be systematic observance of cleanliness.
While the great majority of these houses are structurally sound, a
number of them are old, worn out and below the modern standards of
sanitation and convenience. It is probable that only a minority of the
tenants would be able to pay economic rents for alternative accommo—
dation, having regard to the rents that required to be fixed for new