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42
Housing Act: Rent Books.—No instances of rent books not containing the required
particulars were reported during the year.
Acquisition of a Site for Building Purposes.—On July 22nd, 1930, the Council made an
Order for the compulsory acquisition of a site formerly comprising Nos. 61, 63, and 65,
Brindley Street, pursuant to part III. of the Housing Act, 1925 and the Housing Consolidated
Regulations, 1925, and application was made to the Minister of Health for confirmation
of the Order. The site consists of an area of approximately 2,088 feet super and is suitable
for the erection of working-class tenement dwellings. It is intended that the tenements
to be provided shall be self-contained flats and shall be used for re-housing families displaced
by the operation of Closing Orders in the Borough.
The scheme provides for the erection of a building containing four tenements of three
rooms, and four tenements of two rooms. At the close of the year bills of quantities and
other documents were in course of preparation, prior to the issue of advertisements inviting
tenders for the execution of the necessary works.
Purchasing and Re-conditioning of Houses.—In August, 1930, the consent of the Minister
of Health was obtained to the Council's subscribing an amount not exceeding £5,000 in
respect of debentures, bearing interest at 2½% per annum, secured by a Trust Deed and
issued by a public utility society known as The Paddington Houses Association, Ltd. The
money subscribed will be utilised in purchasing, reconditioning and improving working-class
houses in the Borough, which will be let in tenements.
In May, 1932, the Minister of Health sanctioned the provision of a further sum of £1,500
for this purpose.
Up to the end of 1932, a total of £5,500 had been subscribed.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1920-1925.
Three applications for certificates were made, all of which were granted. In one instance
a certificate was subsequently issued to the owner of the premises, under Section 5 (2) of
the 1923 Act, on the completion of the necessary repairs.
Housing on the London County Council Estates.
The arrangement with the London County Council made in 1924 continues in force
whereby the County Council under Part III of the Housing Act, 1890, allocates preferentially
to suitable applicants recommended by Borough Councils, 50 per cent of new accommodation.
The quota for Paddington is 15 houses per 1,000 built. The cases are selected
on the grounds of overcrowding, unhealthy conditions, urgency and special hardship.

In addition to the above figure of 40 housed, 5 families were housed on the different
Estates on applications submitted to the London County Council previously to 1932. This
figure brings the total number of Paddington applicants housed during the year to 45.
The Table refers only to the number of applications submitted to the London County
Council; it give no indication of the number remaining on the " waiting lists," which is
over 353 for all Estates. (Compare Tables Nos. 1 and 2).
During the year 115 new applications were accepted, and over 1,691 interviews were
held.