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In lieu of making closing orders the Council, in 63 instances, after consultation with owners,
accepted undertakings from them as empowered by Section 19 (2) of the Housing Act, 1930. Suoh
undertakings possess the advantage of expediting prooedure, whilst securing the closure of the
parts of the premises to which they refer as effectively as though olosing orders had been made.
Subsequently, three of the owners submitted proposals for making the premises fit for human
habitation. In each instance the proposals were approved, the work carried out to the satisfaction
of the Council, and the undertakings cancelled.
No action under the Housing Acts could be taken in respect of over 137 other basements, and
altogether during the year nearly 2,000 inspections and re-inspections of basement premises were
made.
The premises are brought to notice:—
(1) by the occupants applying for new housing accommodation;
(2) by the rooms being advertised to let;
(3) by the house as a whole being for sale or lease, and
(4) by a house-to-house survey.
Underground Rooms.—The use of this term in this paragraph is restricted to rooms dealt with
under Section 96 of the Public Health (London) Aot, 1891. Particulars of basement rooms in
regard to which action was taken under the Housing Act, 1930, will be found in the preceding
paragraphs. During the year special attention was given to the inspection of underground rooms
which did not appear to possess the requisites specified in the above-mentioned section and therefore
could not lawfully be oocupied separately as dwellings. As a result of the inspections made,
105 underground rooms were discovered which did not fulfil the conditions essential for separate
occupation. Not only were occupied rooms inspected for this purpose, but also any empty rooms
which appeared to have been recently occupied as separate tenements. In every case a communication
was addressed to the owner either calling upon him to terminate the unlawful ocoupation, or,
where empty rooms were concerned, warning him not to re-let them except in conjunction with
a room or rooms on another floor of the same house. In this way the illegal occupation of the
majority of the rooms above referred to was either terminated or prevented. Further action will,
if necessary, be taken during the current year with regard to any room which is found on reinspection
to be separately occupied.
Purchasing and Re-conditioning. of Houses.—In August, 1930, the consent of the Minister of
Health was obtained to the Counoil's subscribing an amount not exceeding £5,000 in respect of
debentures, bearing interest at 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.
No money was subscribed during 1935, the total remaining at £5,500 as at the end of 1933.
Brindley Street Flats.—These flats were erected by the Council in 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 8s. 6d. and 6s. Od. respectively for each class of
tenement. Accommodation is provided for 33 persons. During the year one flat became vacant
and was re-let to a family which had been displaced from basement rooms.
Housing! on the London County Council Estates.
During the year 354 applications were accepted for housing accommodation on London County
Council Estates. Of this number 222 were sent forward to the County Council with a request that
the applications be given preferential consideration in the allocation of accommodation on grounds
of overcrowding, unhealthy conditions, urgency and special hardship. The remainder of the applications,
in view of the fact that the financial circumstances and place and hours of work of the
applicants did not justify their removal to estates situated outside the London area, were placed
on the liat of applicants waiting to be nominated for suitable vacancies on local estates, such as the
Wormholt Estate, Hammersmith, and the Old Oak Estate, East Acton.
The number of Paddington families accommodated on London County Council Estates on
applications submitted by the Borough Council was 93, whilst 51 other Paddington families were
offered and accepted improved accommodation on applications submitted direct to the County
Council.