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28
HOUSING IN WAR-TIME.
Since the outbreak of hostilities no steps have been taken by the Borough
Council in regard to the provision of new housing accommodation or the making of
clearance orders under the Housing Act, 1936. To conserve all available housing
accommodation no orders have been made for the demolition of houses but 8 closing
orders were made in respect of premises deemed to be unfit for human habitation.
The Lilestone Housing Estate, erected by the London County Council, and the
Wilcove Place and Salisbury Street Estates, built by the St. Marylebone Housing
Association, suffered considerable damage as the result of enemy action. Families
displaced from these estates and from other damaged working-class property were
rehoused in flats and houses requisitioned under the Defence (Emergency) Regulations,
1939.
A separate department of the Council was established to deal with all questions
relating to the effects of war damage and the finding of alternative accommodation for
persons whose homes had been destroyed. Hostels have been established to provide
temporary refuge for these persons, pending the allocation of more permanent
accommodation, and the Council have arranged for the medical supervision of these
hostels and of the rest centres established by the London County Council.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
Included under this head are all ordinary tenement houses in which the rooms
or floors are let out separately. A considerable proportion of the houses in the Borough
are so let, and under revised bye-laws made by the London County Council under
Section 6 of the Housing Act, 1936, which came into operation on the 1st January,
1939, all houses which are occupied, or are of a type suitable for occupation, by persons
of the working classes and let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one
family are subject to registration, and in them there must be compliance with certain
requirements as to sanitation, cleansing, etc. During the year some 4,041 visits
were paid to the 1,426 houses of the tenement type. The number of intimation
notices served was 291, relating to cleansing and other defects. Except in 121 cases,
where statutory notices were issued, all of these notices were complied with without
the necessity for further proceedings arising.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
During 1940, 37 visits were paid by officers of the department to the two
lodging houses in the Borough : one, registered for 436 men, owned by the Salvation
Army and situated at No. 2, Burne Street and premises in Lisson Street; the other,
accommodating 100 women, conducted by the Church Army at Portman House,
Daventry Street and Harrow Street. In addition, the premises were periodically
inspected by a Fire Inspector specially appointed for the purpose. Apart from
minor matters calling for attention, no action was found to be necessary in respect
of either of the common lodging houses.
RENT RESTRICTION ACTS.
No applications under these Acts for certificates as to suitability for occupation
of houses were received during the year.