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PART II.
C.—Housing, House Inspection, General Sanitation.
The Housing problem has actively engaged the attention of both the
Public Health and Housing Committees of the Council during the year.
The opening of Walden House enabled the Council to provide accommodation
for 40 families, many of whom were living in an overcrowded
condition. Several sites considered to be suitable for the erection of
dwelling houses have been enquired into, but so far arrangements have
not been able to be come to for acquirement. The County Council has
decided to offer accommodation in houses which they are erecting to the
metropolitan boroughs for families who are living in a state of overcrowding
or special hardship. Westminster's proportion is 8 per 1,000
houses available for letting during the year.
The only County Council Housing Estates on which it is anticipated
accommodation may be available during the next 12 months are at
Becontree, Essex, and Grove Park, near Bromley, Kent, both a considerable
distance from Westminster. The County Council's offer is
being brought to the notice of persons living in the most overcrowded
conditions in Westminster and who have applied to the City Council for
other accommodation. Unless employment could be found in the neighbourhood
of these estates (as one man has done) the cost of travelling to
Westminster would be prohibitive.
Dangerous Structures.—The County Council has arranged that district
surveyors shall notify borough councils where notices have been
served involving the demolition or partial demolition of dwelling houses
in order that the borough council concerned may take such action as it
deems necessary to prevent any unnecessary hardship to occupiers of
such houses.
Conversion of Houses into Flats.—Section 27 of the Housing, Town
Planning, &c., Act, 1919, provides that where it is proved to the satisfaction
of the County Court on an application by the local authority or
any person interested in a house that, owing to changes in the character
of the neighbourhood in which such house is situate, the house cannot
readily be let as a single tenement but could readily be let for occupation
if converted into two or more tenements, and that, by reason of the
provisions of the lease or of any restrictive covenant affecting the house
or otherwise, such conversion is prohibited or restricted, the Court,