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62
1930
1929
cases.
cases.
Rehoused by Poplar Borough Council 2 6
Rehoused by London County Council 2 1
Rooms re-arranged 7 —
Other accommodation found 7 3
18 10
The following is a summary of a report submitted by the Medical
Officer of Health to the Special Committee re Housing (1930) Act:—
The report submitted the records relating to 2,304 houses visited by
the House-to-House Inspectors during 1929 and 1930, by which it appeared
that of this total number 269 houses or 11.7 per cent., had more than
2 individuals per room in residence, and 465 or 20.2 per cent. had more
than 2½ persons per bedroom. In these 2,304 houses the total population
was 17,315 persons and on the basis of 2 persons per room, 694 families
or 16.6 per cent, were overcrowded or, if the 2½ persons per bedroom
standard is taken, the number of families is 981 and the percentage 23.5.
The report also submitted a return of the number of rooms occupied by
4,194 families whose records had been ascertained by House-to-House
Inspection during 1929 and 1930. These records, which were not specially
selected for the purpose, show that approximately 17 per cent, of the
families of the Borough are living under overcrowded conditions judged
by the standard of more than 2 individuals per room. Judged by the
bedroom standard of more than 2½ persons per bedroom, overcrowding
is even greater (nearly 24 per cent.).
While it is possible that these examples may show too high a percentage
and may not be a true index of the conditions in the Borough as
a whole, there is no doubt that considerable overcrowding exists and
probably at least 5,000 families require accommodation if existing overcrowding
is to be abated.
Fitness of Houses.
It is the policy of this Council when dealing with insanitary property
to take action under the Public Health Acts, and from the report it will
be seen that a considerable amount of work has been done by the sanitary