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(c) (1) No. of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 132 (155)
(2) No. of persons concerned in such cases 522 (611) units
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling-houses have again become
crowded after the Local Authority have taken steps for the abatement of
overcrowding NIL
The number of overcrowded dwellings on the Register of Overcrowding at the end of 1954 (288) shows a decrease
of 39 on the figure for 1953 (327). Some 90 of these were basement dwellings.
Of the cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 11 (11) were provided with accommodation by the Borough
Council, 54 (39) were rehoused by the London County Council, 39 (70) secured accommodation privately, 23 (34) were
relieved by a natural reduction in the size of the family or on obtaining additional accommodation, and 5 (1) families
were rehoused under the Industrial Selection Scheme for New Towns.
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 overcrowidng of premises has been abated.
In all, the London County Council rehoused 291 families from Paddington during the year, 54 of which were
recommended for preferential treatment on overcrowding grounds.
Housing Act, 1949—Improvements and conversions.
Fifteen applications for grants in respect of proposed improvement or conversion of properties were referred to
the Department for examination and report. The preparation of these reports involves consultation between the
Sanitary Inspectors and other technical officers of the Council as well as interviews on the premises with the architects
and owners concerned.
Underground Room Regulations.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government informed the Council on the 30th June 1954 that the model
regulations for rooms to which Section 12 (2) of the Housing Act 1936 applied has been revised to bring them into line
with the new model building bye-laws, to secure proper economy in the use of materials and to incorporate other improvements.
On the 21st October 1954 the Council decided to adopt the revised model regulations (which were set out in
full as an Appendix of the Council Agenda) in order to secure uniformity with adjacent Boroughs who were also adopting
the regulations. The revised regulations were confirmed by the Minister on the 15th December, 1954.
Town Planning.
Ninety-eight applications to the London County Council under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947 for the
conversion and altering of premises, as well as a large number of applications for continuation of consent, were referred
to the Council for examination and comment. As a result of the Council's observations permission was refused for
certain basement rooms to be used for human habitation where the rooms did not conform to the statutes and regulations
in force in the Borough.
Housing Accommodation: Preferential Treatment.
During the year 659 (521) medical certificates were referred to me by the Borough Director of Housing for "pointing"
This arrangement enables the necessary degree of preference to be given to each certificate as well as bringing to notice
sanitary defects which might otherwise have escaped detection and in respect of which no previous complaint had
been received.
Immigrants from Cyprus and Malta.
The Governments of Cyprus and Malta continue to co-operate with the Council in ascertaining the suitability of
accommodation offered to would-be immigrants by relatives and friends living in the Borough. In each case a visit
is made by the Sanitary Inspector to the premises, and the Government concerned advised as to the adequacy and
permanence of the proposed accommodation. This arrangement avoids overcrowding of premises and ensures that the
immigrants are adequately housed.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
Under the above-mentioned Act it is incumbent on the local authority to keep a register of local land charges.
Houses included in clearance, improvement and re-development areas must be registered, as well as houses subject
to repair notices under Part II of the Housing Act, 1936, and houses on which closing or demolition orders have been
made.
Some 1,372 inquiries were referred to the Public Health Department during the year asking for details of notices
outstanding and orders in operation under the Housing Act. At the same time particulars were called for of sanitary
or other notices outstanding on the properties concerned.