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by more than one family. In determining whether a
house occupied by two or more families was overcrowded
the aggregate population was taken and if the permitted
number for the premises was not exceeded, no overcrowding
was deemed to exist, but it will be appreciated that
although this was a necessary method of assessing the
priority for rehousing, it ignores the fact that many
houses although not overcrowded on this standard are
occupied in such a manner as to constitute a grave
social evil.
The present housing shortage makes striot
enforcement of the overcrowding provisions impossible,
but during the year under review the Council considered
that in two instances the circumstances were such that
statutory action should bo taken. In the first case,
a family having illegally overcrowded a dwelling
refused several offers of alternative accommodation,
and a notice served on the occupier requiring the
abatement of the overcrowding was not complied with.
Subsequently, the occupier was summonsed for causing
the premises to bo overcrowded,and at Tower Bridge
Magistrate's Court on the 26th. June, the offence was
found to bo proved, but sentence was deferred for three
months after which it would be considered in the light
of the action taken by the defendant to abate the
overcrowding during that period. Prior to the
expiration of the three months a further offer of
accommodation was made to the defendant which was
accepted and the Council then obtained permission to
withdraw the summons.
In the second case it was found that an eightroomed
house having a permitted number of sixteen
persons was being used as an hostel or boarding house,
and a statement completed by the occupier showed the
number of persons sleeping in the premises to bo twentyeight.
A notice to abate the overcrowding was served
and complied with; no further action was necessary.
During the year, 252 of the families living in
overcrowded dwellings applied to the London County
Council for re-housing and overcrowding certificates
wore forwarded to that authority by the department.
Details of the overcrowding in the Borough
are given below:-
Premises. Dwelling, therein.
Families. Persons.
Remaining on the register at
the end of 1946. 877 976 4,966
Now cases reported during 1947.266 372 1,562
Totals. 1,143 1,348 6,528
Overcrowding abated 142 190 866
Remaining on register. 1,001 1,158 5,662
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