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During 1964 applications have been dealt with as follows:—
New Cases 96
Cases reconsidered on new medical certificates 111
Cases reconsidered 4
Applications for rehousing by the London County Council are made to
that body. Reports are sometimes asked for and supplied in regard to the
existing overcrowding and sanitary defects. A very limited number are
granted medical priority allocated by the County Medical Officer of Health.
The number of families rehoused during 1964 was
Rehoused by Finsbury Borough Council
(original lettings). 50
Rehoused by Finsbury Borough Council
from clearance areas etc. 100
Rehoused by London County Council
(including clearance areas). 136
Rehoused in New Towns. 8
Rehoused by City Corporation. 5
In addition many transfers within Council Property took place, in order
to make the best use of existing accommodation and prevent under
occupation.
Overcrowding:
It is difficult to estimate the extent of overcrowding in the Borough —
either overcrowding based on the purely legal standard or what may well be
considered to be overcrowding of families living in cramped conditions,
necessitating the use of kitchens as bedrooms, but not legally overcrowded.
At the beginning of 1957 a register was started of overcrowded families,
coming to the notice of the Department. Since then, details of some 211
families have been recorded, in 78 of which the overcrowding was
subsequently abated by rehousing.
Generally speaking, however, serious overcrowding is much reduced,
and the majority of cases coming to the notice of the department are only
overcrowded to the extent of l/2 or 1 unit, usually caused by natural increase
over a period of years. Twenty new cases were noted during 1964.
It is the policy to send strongly worded letters, threatening
prosecution to owners and tenants of dwellings where recent wilful overcrowding
has come to light. No prosecutions were undertaken duringthe year.
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