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45
((/)—Proceedings under Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936:—
(1) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of
which Closing Orders were made 370
(2) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of
which Closing Orders were determined, the tenement or room
having been rendered fit 75
HOUSING ACT, 1936-PART IV. OVERCROWDING.
(a) (i) Number of dwellings overcrowded at the end of the year 2965
(ii) „ families dwelling therein 2965
(iii) ,, persons „ „ 13876
(b) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year 144
(c) (i) „ cases of overcrowding relieved during the year *1674
(ii) „ persons concerned in such cases 7597
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling houses have again
become overcrowded after Local Authority have taken steps
for (he abatement of overcrowding 2
* 62 by London County Council; 40 by Borough Council; and 1,58 J by own efforts as revealed by 1937 Survey.
One overcrowded family obtained other accommodation after service of informal notice
by the Borough Council.
The vacated premises again became overcrowded,* and notices were served upon
the landlord, the landlord's agent and the occupier requiring the abatement of the offence.
These notices were subsequently complied with.
* Owing to the premises being re-let by the caretaker, knowledge of which was disclaimed by the agent.
(e) Any other particulars with respect to overcrowding conditions upon which the Medical
Officer of Health may consider it desirable to report.
A routine inspection of some 600-700 dwellings a mouth is being carried out in this
borough with a view to ascertaining (a) the extent to which overcrowding existing at the time
of the survey has been abated, and (6) the extent to which overcrowding has become
established in dwellings not overcrowded at the time of the survey.
It is too soon to draw definite conclusions, but the general indication is that the
number of families living under conditions of overcrowding as defined in the Housing
Act, 1936, is diminishing. Satisfaction at this tendency is tempered by the knowledge that
it is extremely difficult for alternative accommodation to be obtained for large families with
small incomes.
Many families of this type are known to the Public Health Department to be living
under conditions of gross overcrowding. They are, however, unable to afford the rents for
accommodation sufficient to meet the requirements of the Housing Act. The provisions of the
Act under which overcrowding established anew after the " appointed day" constitutes an
offeace makes it impossible unless a special certificate is given for such families to move into
accommodation in which they would be less overcrowded if the new tenancy does not comply
with the legal standards. In this matter a position has been established in which best may be
the enemy of good.
During the year under consideration 13 cases of overcrowding established since the
"appointed day" and in contravention of Section 59 of the Housing Act, 1936, came to the
notice of the Public Health Department. An informal notice requiring the abatement of overcrowding
was sent in twelve cases. In the remaining instance a notice in the form required
by the Act was issued.
At the end of the year eight cases had been abated and the remainder were still
engaging the attention of the Department.
There were no prosecutions.