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Closing orders were determined or undertakings cancelled on seven (5) basements and the upper parts of three
(6) mews premises. One (3) house was wholly made fit following action under Section 11 of the Housing Act, 1936.
Seven (—) other basements were made fit without recourse to formal proceedings.
Compulsory Repairs.
Thirty-eight (12) Notices under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, were served during the year. Seven (1)
Notices were complied with, and works were in progress at fifteen (5) other premises. In one (2) further case works
are being undertaken by the Council in default, and at fifteen (4) other premises the works have not yet commenced.
Nine notices served prior to 1951 have also been complied with during the year, and in two (1) other cases the work
was carried out by the Council in default. At several other premises the required repairs were carried out by the
owners without service of Notice.

The number of overcrowded dwellings on the Register of Overcrowding at the end of 1951 (548) shows a decrease
of 85 on the figure for 1950 (633). Some 118 of these were basement dwellings. It is also interesting to note that the
number of new cases reported in 1951 (184) showed a marked decrease on the number of new cases reported in
1950 (421).
Of the cases of overcrowding relieved during the year, 14 (39) were provided with accommodation by the
Borough Council, 135 (86) secured accommodation privately, 35 (31) were relieved by a natural reduction in the size
of the family or on obtaining additional accommodation, and 85 (156) were rehoused by the London County Council.
The practice of sending warning letters to owners and landlords against permitting the premises to become again
overcrowded has been continued in all known cases where overcrowding of premises has been abated.
Slum Clearance Survey.
Under the draft programme of slum clearance in London prepared by the London County Council, no property
in the Borough was scheduled for demolition in 1951.
Use of War-Damaged site.
Following representations by this Council, the London County Council has decided to acquire the war-damaged
properties, Nos. 2-8, Paignton Street, for the extension of St. Paul's School playground. All four properties have been
the subject of demolition order proceedings. In two cases demolition orders were made, but on being informed that
the District Surveyor was undertaking repair works to make the other two buildings reasonably safe, the demolition
order proceedings were withdrawn.
Rehousing Inquiries.
Some 700 communications were received during the year from the Borough Director of Housing, the County
Divisional Medical Officer, the County Director of Housing and Valuer, and from other authorities requesting
information on the housing conditions of persons applying for re-housing on grounds of overcrowding, insanitary
conditions, and ill-health. Such information enables the inquirer to assess the degree of priority to be given to the
applicants concerned. In each case a visit was made by the Sanitary Inspector and a report furnished.
Housing Accommodation : Preferential Treatment.
Five (5) families recommended for preferential consideration in the allocation of accommodation on medical
grounds were rehoused by the Borough Council, and four (19) by the London County Council.
New Accommodation.
During the year 6 flats at John Aird Court and 12 flats at Lancefield Court were completed, and families selected
from the Council's waiting list were rehoused therein.
Fumigation.
Associated Fumigators, Ltd., under an agreement with the Council, removed and treated the furniture and effects
of 44 families with hydrogen cyanide gas during the year. The cost of the work was £269. On the 1st April the charge
for this work was increased from £8 10s. Od. to £9 18s. Od. per van per day, and as from the same date the charge
made by the Council to persons whose furniture and effects are dealt with under this agreement was increased from
£2 to £5. In 1950, 153 families were removed at a cost of £680.