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58
C,—Proceedings under Sections 11,14 and 15 of tlie Housing Act, 1925:—
(1) Number of representations made with a view to the making of
Closing Orders 1
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders
were made 1
(3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were
determined, the dwelling-houses having been rendered fit . . Nil.
(4) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders
were made Nil.
(5) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition
Orders Nil.
Particulars concerning Inspection of Tenement Houses are given in Table 6 on page 98.
VENTILATION OF BATHROOMS.
Attention was directed to this subject during the year owing to the growing practice of
converting large houses into a number of separate flats.
In the cases in question it is customary to partition off a small space between the front
and back rooms, on each floor, in order to make a bathroom. When, as is often the case, the
house is situated in a terrace the provision of ventilation to the external air for such a room is
almost impossible. There is no legislation at present in force which gives power to prohibit so
undesirable an arrangement, and the matter was referred by the Council to the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee for consideration.
The mere absence of external ventilation in a bathroom is in itself objectionable, bu*
the danger incidental to the use of a gas geyser in such a room is an additional reason for the
provision of regulations on this matter.
OVERCROWDING.
Unfortunately this is still prevalent, especially amongst unskilled or casual workers,
with large families. In such cases the incomes are insufficient to pay for the amount of
accommodation that is necessary.
In a number of other cases overcrowding exists in families who can afford to pay for
adequate accommodation which is available on the outskirts of London, but the nature of the
employment does not permit them to live at such a distance.
The London County Council allocate to each Metropolitan Borough a certain amount of
accommodation in their various housing estates. This accommodation is used to relieve the
most serious cases of overcrowding which are discovered.
During the year 221 families, comprising 1,250 persons, who were living in 434 rooms,
were recommended for and obtained housing accommodation under the above scheme.
HOUSING SCHEMES.
WORK OF THE ESTATES COMMITTEE OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.
The following account of the principal matters dealt with during the year has been
furnished by Mr. A. D. Corrick, Clerk to the Estates Committee:—
The Estates Committee is appointed by the Council to "take over, control and manage
"all houses and other properties of the Council, except such as are used by any department of
"the Council for its own purposes; to see that such houses and properties are kept in
"tenantable condition and let at reasonable rents; to prepare schemes under the Housing of