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The houses owned by the council in the Notting Dale and Kensal Town districts of the borough,
the property owned by the Kensington housing trust, the Wilsham housing trust, the improved
tenements association and the smaller housing associations, are managed by women property
managers, who hold frequent conferences and are of great assistance to one another in relieving
cases of overcrowding which arise owing to changes in the size of families. The very large amount
of housing accommodation, totalling about 2,300 houses or flats in North Kensington, which is now
under the control of enlightened management, is a very important factor in the considerable
improvement which is taking place in the housing conditions in that part of the borough.
Common Lodging Houses.
Common lodging houses must be licensed annually, and the 30th June of each year has been
fixed by the council as the date of the expiration of each licence.
The common lodging house at No. 66, St. Anns Road, was closed at the end of the year 1934.
Since that time the premises have remained empty, and it is anticipated that they will be
demolished and the cleared site used for the erection of flats.

In June, 1935, the council renewed the licence in each of the three above cases. Although these
three houses are licensed to receive 144 persons, a recent census taken at night time showed only
87 in residence. These three houses are inspected weekly by officers of the council to ensure that
the keepers and their deputies maintain reasonably good conditions, and to secure compliance with
the council's regulations.
Flatlets.
In London there is a demand for flatlets, and for several years the council have been concerned
in regard to the proper control of the large number of houses in the borough which are being
converted into these one-roomed dwellings. Whilst it is no doubt practicable to erect new blocks
of buildings containing flatlets which will prove satisfactory, the council fear that the conversion
of existing single-family houses may lead to a number of evils, to which they have already called
attention.
With a view to securing some control of these dwellings, the council have suggested that they
should be provided with legislation, either in the form of sections in a London County Council
(General Powers) Act, or in the form of by-laws. The county council, however, have had some
difficulty in framing appropriate legislation and have ultimately come to the conclusion that
satisfactory results might be obtained by regulating these conversions under the powers contained
in the Town Planning Acts.
The county council have accordingly expressed their willingness to draw up a code of
instructions for the guidance of district surveyors when they are considering plans for conversions.
These notes provide as follows :—
(1)Arrangements for food storage, dust and refuse.—Each flat should be self-contained and
be provided with w.c., bath, kitchen, ventilated food storage and proper arrangements
for the storage and removal of dust and refuse.
(2) Bathrooms and w.c.'s on half landings.—Favourable consideration will be given to the
planning of a bathroom and w.c. on a half landing and not within the flat, only where
this position is the sole convenient one and if the general circumstances are otherwise
suitable and proper lighting and ventilation are maintained on the staircase.
(3) W.c.'s and bathrooms.—W.c.'s should in all cases be provided on external walls and
directly ventilated into the open air. Bathrooms should be adequately ventilated
into the open air.
(4) Size of bedrooms and living rooms.—Living rooms should be not less than 150 square feet
in area. In two-roomed flats the bedroom should be not less than 110 square feet,
and in flats of three or more rooms one bedroom should be not less than 110 square feet
and no bedroom less than 70 square feet in area.