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45
Under the Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933, the duties previously performed by the
London County Council in connection with Common Lodging Houses were transferred to the Borough
Council as from the 1st April, 1933. Between that date and the 31st December, 66 inspections
(including 21 at night time) were made by the respective Sanitary Inspectors.
The licences issued by the London County Council expired on the 30th June, when fresh licences
were granted by the Borough Council for the period ending 30th June, 1934.
During the year 2 deaths occurred among the occupants of these houses.
Housing Act: Rent Books.—No instances of rent books not containing the required particulars
were reported during the year.
Brindley Street Flats.—The erection of these fiats, to which reference was made in the last report,
was completed early in September, 1933. They contain four tenements each with living room, kitchen
and two bedrooms, and four tenements each with living room, kitchen and one bedroom, the rents
being 10s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. respectively for each class of tenement. Accommodation is provided for
33 persons. All tenements are occupied by families displaced from basements rooms through the
operation of Closing Orders made by the Council.
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 cent. 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, re-conditioning 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 1933, a total of £5,500 had been subscribed.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1920-1933.
Nine 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, allocate 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.
The following Table (No. 1) shows the number of applications submitted to the London County
Council for accommodation on the different Estates, during the year only, and how they were
dealt with.