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Overcrowding.
It is to be regretted that a considerable amount of overcrowding
still exists notwithstanding the large number of houses which
have been built by the London County Council and by private
enterprise in London and its environs. Unfortunately these have
had little effect on the housing difficulties in Battersea. As pointed
out in previous Annual Reports, owing to the remoteness of the
newly-built London County Council bouses from their work, and
their inability to pay the rents charged, there is a reluctance on the
part of the inhabitants of the Borough to accept accommodation
on these estates.
It is interesting to note in this connection that the method
which I understand is applied by the London County Council as a
guide for ascertaining the approximate amount of rent which a
family can reasonably afford for housing accommodation on their
Estates, is that the income of the family should be from four to
five times as much as the rent they would have to pay for the
accommodation.
The rents charged for three-roomed and four-roomed dwellings
on the London County Council Estates are approximately 16s. and
18s. per week respectively, and on this basis a family of six would
require an income of at least £3 4s. 0d. to £4 0s. 0d., whilst a family
of eight persons would need an income of at least £3 12s. 0d. to
£4 10s. 0d. to pay these rents. When it is appreciated that the
average income of the poorer working class families is under £3
per week, it will be realised that until dwellings are provided at a
much lower rental than is at present charged, no serious diminution
of the overcrowding problem in Battersea can be expected.
During 1929 the Downham and Watling Housing Estates of
the London County Council were completed, and consequently
the number of cases referred to the London County Council with
a view to special consideration being given thereto on the grounds