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47
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 number of rooms to meet their needs. Generally, private
owners refuse to let their properties to these families. After careful consideration the borough
council concluded that they would have to take special measures to cater for these families.
The council in the first place considered the possibility of purchasing a number of large tenement
houses and letting each one to a large family. Several hundreds of these houses were surveyed
in blocks and groups but the amount of available vacant accommodation was so small as not to
warrant the expenditure.
Accordingly attention was given to the acquisition of empty properties. A group of seven
houses in Princes Road and Pottery Lane, which were practically unoccupied, was purchased by
agreement. In addition, the council decided to purchase two large houses in St. Charles Square ;
one of these was empty and the other contained only two persons ; one was purchased by voluntary
agreement, but in the second house it was necessary to make a compulsory purchase order, which
was sanctioned by the Minister, after public enquiry, in July, 1937.
During the year, these houses were reconditioned by the council and have been let to large
overcrowded families who could not be satisfactorily accommodated in the usual type of council
house or flat.
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.
In 1937 there were two lodging houses for women and one for men. In 1938 the lodging house
for men at Nos. 28 & 30, Crescent Street was acquired by the council for the purpose of demolition
in connection with the proposal to redevelop Becher Street Area, and, therefore, the licence was not
renewed.

Although these two lodging houses can accommodate 70 persons, a recent census, taken at night,
revealed only 40 persons in residence.
The premises 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.
Housing Accommodation provided by the Borough Council.
The following is a list of the properties owned and managed by the borough council:—
No. of houses
Situation of properties. « or flats.
Kenley Street, Seymour King Buildings, 4, Hesketh Place and 6, Runcorn
Place 120
St. James's Place, Bosworth Road, Sirdar Road, 'Hesketh Place, Runcorn
Place, Walmer Road and Windsor House 95
Southam House 9
Powis Square, Colville Terrace, Elgin Crescent, 85, Ladbroke Grove,
47, Bassett Road and 20a, Adair Road (conversions) 102
St. Quintin Estate (Sec. 1 & 2), and Avondale Park Gardens 116
St. Quintin Estate (Sec. 3, 4 & 5), Threshers Place, etc. 133
Morland House
Talbot Grove and Mews 44
"Vos. 84-90, Princes Road and
,*9S. 32 and 34, St. Charles Square 9
Octavia House
In addition to the above property there are 16 occupied houses under the management of the
borough council which were acquired during 1938 in connection with the scheme of redeveloping
the Becher Street area.
The council, by virtue of rate contributions to the county council, have the right to nominate
tenants to 99 county council houses on the Wormholt estate, and 50 houses on other county council
estates.