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22
HOUSING
Housing Act, 1957—Overcrowding
(a) (1) Number of dwellings overcrowded at the
end of the year 210 (237)
(2) Number of families dwelling therein 214 (244)
(3) Number of persons dwelling therein 932½(1,040½)
(Units)
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding
ported during the year 54 (35)
(c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding
lieved during the year 81 (75)
(2) Number of persons concerned in such
cases 317 (327½)
(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 1958 was 210. This shows a decrease of
27 on the figure for 1957 (237). There were 66 basement dwellings
on the Register.
Of the cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 28 (19)
were rehoused by the London County Council, 40 (30) secured
accommodation privately and 13 (19) were relieved by a natural
reduction in the size of the family or on obtaining additional
accommodation.
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 80 of the Housing Act, 1957, 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 1 (9) licences under this section of the Act.
During the year, a total of 580 (769) Paddington families were
rehoused by the London County Council or provided with accommodation
in New Towns under the Industrial Selection Scheme.
Town Planning.
One hundred and eighty-four (187) applications to the London
County Council under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947,
for the conversion and alteration of premises, change of user or
continuation of consent were referred to the Council for
examination and comment.
Housing Enquiries.
Some 22 (80) communications were received during the year
from other authorities, requesting information on the housing
conditions of persons applying for rehousing on grounds of
overcrowding, insanitary conditions or ill-health. Such information