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(4) The Act contains special provisions relating to overcrowding already existing on the
above-mentioned date or which is due to a child attaining the age of either one or ten
years after that date, or which is due to exceptional circumstances. Full information about these special provisions and all provisions as to overcrowding can be
obtained free on application to the borough council, whose address is Town Hall,
Kensington, W. 8.
The Act provides that the council shall, upon application of either the landlord or occupier, give
in writing the permitted number of persons in respect of the " dwelling house " owned or occupied
by the applicant.
In order to deal with the maximum number of applications from owners for " permitted
numbers," the council during the summer authorised the employment of survey assistants up to a
total of six for the purpose of measuring rooms in connection with these applications. During the
year, however, it was found necessary to employ only two of these assistants. The following table
shows particulars of the work they had carried out up to 31st December, 1936 :—
(a) Number of applications received 80
(b) Number of houses involved in these applications 2,593
(c) Total number of houses measured 1,214
By-laws for Houses let in Lodgings.
The total number of houses let in lodgings on the register at the end of the year was 3,161, and
the number of inspections of these houses during the year was 5,829. The number of houses cleansed
as a result of notices served under the by-laws was 360.
Until the passing of the Housing Act, 1935, overcrowding and indecent occupation (i.e., persons
of opposite sexes over the age of twelve years not living together as man and wife but sleeping in the
same bedroom) in houses let in lodgings was controlled by the by-laws made under section 6 of the
1925 Act. The Housing Act, 1935, however, repealed, as from the " appointed day," by-laws in
respect of overcrowding and indecent occupation, and substituted the new national overcrowding
standard mentioned earlier.

Rehousing of Large Families with Small Incomes.
During the overcrowding survey of the borough in 1935 it was found that there was a number
of families with a large number of small children who, owing to low family incomes, would be unable
to pay an economic rent for the requisite number of rooms to meet their needs. Generally, private
owners refuse to let their properties to these families—even some housing associations hesitate to
provide accommodation for them. After careful consideration the borough council concluded that
they would have to take special measures to cater for these families.