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41
HOUSING
There are 1404 houses on the Register to which no additions have been made for some
8 years. For the supervision of these houses only one Inspector was available during 1919-20,
and the work suffered accordingly. Moreover, that Inspector had to devote no small part of
his time to the inspection of houses with a view to action under Sec. 28 of the Housing, Town
Planning, etc. Act, 1919 (Repair of Premises)—a work demanding much time owing to the
number of visits requisite to complete the inspections and supervise work in progress.
During 1919, 3,305 inspections were made and in 1920, 2,536. The extent to which the
supervision of these houses decreased during the two years is shown conclusively by the fact
that whereas the annual number of inspections averaged 7,120 each year during 1909-13 and
4,140 during 1914-18, the average for 1919-20 was only 2,920. The need for supervision is
believed to be greater than it was before the war and the return of work done during 1919-20
(See Table XXV. Appendix) by no means represents the actual needs of repairs.
Annual Cleansing.—The cleansing required by Bye-law No. 19 was not carried out in
either year on the scale required or desired. The demands on the time of the Staff for other
duties made that result inevitable. The returns furnished were so incomplete that they are
not worth inclusion in this Report.
Overcrowding.—Only 11 cases (8 in 1919 and 3 in 1920) of overcrowding were reported, a
total which is almost incredible having regard to the deficiencies in houses and the frequency
of reception of sub-tenants (lodgers).
Common Lodging Houses.—There are 5 of these houses, all in Kilburn Lane, affording
accommodation for 128 men and 37 women.
The supervision of the houses rests with the officers of the County Council, the Borough
Council's powers being limited to objections to renewal of the licences. At the inspections
made immediately before the Licensing Meeting of the Public Health (L.C.C.) Committee,
the premises were found to be in good condition and no objections were offered to the renewals.
Four cases of infectious disease were notified among the occupants of these houses during
1919-20, viz., one of influenzal pneumonia (f. æt. 58) in 1919 and one of influenzal pneumonia
(f. æt. 15) and two of measles (f. æt. 1 and 4) in 1920.
In 1919 there were 4 deaths (in the second half-year)—all males, and in 1920,10 (males 7 ;
females 3). The deaths in 1919 included 1 from pulmonary tuberculosis and 2 from respiratory
diseases. In 1920, one death (f. æt. 1 year) was due to measles and one to respiratory
diseases (pneumonia, f. 16 years). The other deaths call for no comment.
Inland Revenue Acts.—Three certificates were issued during 1919-20 for remission (or
reduction) of the Inhabited House Duty with respect to 139, Portnall Road (3 flats):
33, Randolph Crescent (1 flat): 2. Durham Terrace (2 flats).
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920.—Some
75 applications were made to the Medical Officer of Health for advice as to Notices to
increase rent received under this Act.
The demands made for increased rents of tenement properties were checked and the
recipients of the Notices advised as to the steps they should take to protect themselves.
The applications for certificates for the purpose of appeals under Sec. 2 (2) of the Act,
numbered 21, certificates being issued in 16 instances and refused in 2. Three of the
applications were abandoned. Inspections by the Medical Officer of Health were made
before the granting or refusal of certificates.
L.C.C. Houses.—Applications for help to obtain accommodation on the estates belonging
to the County Council were received during 1920 from 26 tenement occupiers in the Borough.
Prior to August, nothing could be done save to forward the application to the Housing
Manager, but since then preferential selection has been given to applications in respect of
which the Medical Officer of Health urged special reasons for preference, e.g. tuberculous
patients requiring additional accommodation, ejectment not due to fault or misconduct, etc. of
applicant, etc. In 7 instances the applications were not pressed owing to other homes being
obtained, etc., 3 families left the Borough before a decision was arrived at by the County
Officials, 8 families were given new houses and two others were placed on the waiting list for
"pre-war" tenements. Decisions were pending at the end of 1920 with respect to the
remaining 6 families.