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64
HOUSING ACT, 1936.
PART 4. OVERCROWDING.
During 1938 the overcrowding survey, under Part 4 of the Housing Act, 1936, was
completed, with the exception of a number of licensed premises.
Two hundred and twenty-three letters were addressed to landlords and employers of
resident housekeepers in the City, pointing out their responsibilities under Section 62 of
the Housing Act, 1936. In addition, 69 visits were made to houses where landlords had
failed to apply for the "Permitted Number of Persons." This resulted in applications
being received from landlords asking for the "Permitted Number of Persons "in respect
of 333 dwellings.
The Act required that a Local Authority, upon the application of the landlord or the
occupier of a dwelling-house, shall inform them in writing of the "Permitted Number of
Persons" in relation to the house. In order to obtain these particulars, it was necessary
to measure 208 dwellings.
It is apparent that information with regard to occupiers and their families change
from time to time, and in order to trace additional cases of overcrowding, and to keep the
office records to date, 383 visits have been made to check the number of occupants.
Twelve visits were made to dwellings on notification of change of occupier.
Section 62 (1) lays down that the landlord of a dwelling shall enter a summary in the
rent book of the "Permitted Number of Persons" in relation to the house. In order to
ascertain whether this part of the Act was being carried out, 20 visits were made to dwellings,
when the rent books were inspected.
Ninety-eight re-visits were made to overcrowded dwellings and, as a result, 21 cases of
overcrowding were found to have been abated by reason of vacation of dwelling, additional
rooms being provided, size of families in occupation diminishing.
Two additional cases of overcrowding occurred by reason of children attaining the age
of ten years and consequently requiring the accommodation for a whole unit.
Section 61 of the Housing Act, 1936, gives power to a Local Authority, in exceptional
circumstances, to issue a licence to the occupier of a dwelling, authorising him to permit
such number of persons in excess of the " Permitted Number of Persons," as may be specified
in the licence, to sleep in the house. During the period under review, four such licences
were issued. Two of these licences were withdrawn on the overcrowding being abated.
It was thought necessary to make an inspection of the 430 Licensed Premises in the
City, to ascertain the conditions under which the staffs lived. To date 33 premises have
been inspected and, with the exception of one case of overcrowding, the living conditions
are satisfactory. All the rooms used for the purpose of human habitation have been measured
and the " Permitted Number of Persons " recorded in the office records.
Ninety-five miscellaneous visits have been carried out and four Special Reports made
to the Worshipful The Public Health Committee.
SECTION 12. UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
The above Section of the Housing Act, 1936, deals with the closure or reconstruction
of underground rooms, which are unfit for human habitation.
During 1938 inspection of the City was made to discover underground rooms used for
the purpose of human habitation. As a result of these inspections, 58 underground rooms
were found.
Eleven underground dwellings were re-visited and plans of the 16 unfit rooms were .
prepared. As a result of these inspections, it was found that 11 of the rooms were capable
of reconstruction which, if carried out, would render the rooms fit for human habitation
by complying with the standards of the Housing Act, 1936. Consequently the owners were
interviewed, and as a result five of the rooms have been reconstructed and are now being
used for the purpose of human habitation. In the case of the remaining six rooms, the
owners decided to close them for the purpose of human habitation. The occupants have
vacated the premises, which are at present being used as offices.
The reconstruction and/or closure of the 11 underground rooms mentioned above
enabled five cases of overcrowding to be abated. One hundred and twenty-five visits were
made in connection with the above work. Five Special Reports have been made to the
Worshipful The Public Health Committee.