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44
HOUSING.
Conversions.—Section 102 of the Housing Act, 1925, and Section 84 of the Law of Property Act,
1925, empower a County Court to vary the terms of a lease or other instrument so as to enable a house
to be converted into tenements, notwithstanding any restrictive covenant there may be to the contrary.
No applications under these Sections were made during the year.
Plans continue to be submitted to the Council under the drainage bye-laws, relative to the
conversion of premises into tenements. It is probable that a number of other conversions were carried
out in which no interference with existing drainage was involved. Such conversions would not come
within the purview of the department.
Compulsory Repairs.—No notices were served under Section 17 of the Housing Act of 1930, but
90 communications were sent to owners drawing attention to defects liable to be dealt with under
this Section. These communications in most instances resulted in the defects being remedied.
Clearance Areas.—No areas in the Borough were declared as clearance areas either by the Borough
Council or the London County Council, but towards the close of the year a survey of the whole of the
Borough was begun with a view to obtaining detailed information for the submission of suitable
schemes.
Improvement Areas.—On the 18th July, 1933, the London County Council passed a resolution
declaring Clarendon Street area to be an Improvement Area under Section 7 (1) of the Housing Act,
1930. The area comprises Nos. 2a, 2b and 2 to 50 (even numbers), la and 1 to 49 (odd numbers),
Clarendon Street. It is the intention of the County Council to provide accommodation on the Wormholt
Estate for the persons to be displaced, either by the operation of closing orders relating to parts of
premises (basements) or for the abatement of overcrowding.
The bye-laws for dealing with the area were still under consideration by the London County
Council at the close of the year. When these come into operation they will be enforced by the Borough
Council.
Houses Unfit for Habitation.—Ten Closing Orders were made during the year with regard to parts
of premises (basement rooms) which were unfit for human habitation. Eight of the families affected
were provided with accommodation in the block of flats newly erected by the Borough Council in
Brindley Street, one family was housed by the London County Council on the Old Oak Estate, and
the remaining family found other accommodation through their own efforts.
A Closing Order made in 1932 in regard to a tenement consisting of three basement rooms was
determined, the tenement having been made fit for human habitation.
Underground Rooms.—No rooms were dealt with under the Council's Regulations pursuant to
Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1925, but action was taken under Section 96 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, with respect to the illegal occupation of underground rooms at seven premises.
In three instances the illegal occupation was discontinued; the remaining four cases were still under
observation at the end of the year.
Tenement Houses.—Two houses were added to the Register during the year, making a total of
1,408.. The inspections made numbered 2,726. Particulars of the defects, etc., discovered and
remedied will be found on pages 47 and 48.
Overcrowding.—During 1933 five tenements in registered houses were reported to be overcrowded.
In three instances the overcrowding was abated. The occupants of the remaining tenement were
unable to find other accommodation before the close of the year.
Owing to existing social conditions only extreme cases of overcrowding are dealt with by official
action.
Annual Cleansing.—The usual practice with regard to the selection of special streets for inspection
was followed, a total of 230 houses being inspected during the year. Notices were served for the
cleansing and other work which was found to be necessary.
Common Lodging Houses.—There are 2 common lodging houses in Kilburn Lane and 1 (Cecil
House) in Harrow Road. The number of beds for which each is licensed is as follows:—
268 and 270, Kilburn Lane, 60 beds for men.
272, 274 and 276, Kilburn Lane, 105 beds for men.
Cecil House, 179, Harrow Road, 69 beds for women and children.