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HOUSING:—
Housing Act, 1936—Overcrowding.
(a) (1) Number of dwellings overcrowded at
the end of the year 277 (297)
(2) Number of families dwelling therein 293 (302)
(3) Number of persons dwelling therein 1,192 (1,236$)
(Units)
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding
reported during the year 73 (100)
(c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding
relieved during the year 93 (91)
(2) Number of persons concerned in such
cases 368 (375$)
(Units)
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling-
houses have again become overcrowded
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 1956 (277) shows a decrease of 20 on
the figure for 1955 (297); 95 of these were basement dwellings.
Of the cases of overcrowding relieved during the year, 2 (12)
were provided with accommodation by the Borough Council, 7 (16)
were rehoused by the London County Council, 54 (36) secured
accommodation privately, 26 (23) were relieved by a natural
reduction in the size of the family or on obtaining additional
accommodation, and 4 (4) 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 overcrowding of
premises has been abated.
Section 61 of the Housing Act, 1936, gives a local authority
power, where they are satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist
which make it expedient to do so, to allow the temporary use of
a house by persons in excess of the permitted number. During the
year, the Council issued 8 (9) licences under this section of the Act.
During the year, a total of 291 (292) families from Paddington
were rehoused on London County Council Estates or provided
with accommodation in New Towns under the Industrial Selection
Scheme.
Housing Act, 1949—Improvements and Conversions.
Twenty-seven (nineteen) 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 Public Health
Inspectors and other technical officers of the Council, as well as
interviews on the premises with the architects and owners
concerned.