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49
(b) Sufficiency of Supply of Houses and Overcrowding.—During the year the
erection of li t houses on the Corporation Upney Estate was in progress as the first
portion of the five years' programme of building.
The houses to be erected are chiefly of the two-bedroom, non-parlour type, let
at an inclusive rental of 10s. 6d. per week. This type of house provides what is
regarded as minimum amenities at a reasonable rent. Unfortunately, even this low
rent is more than some of the families living in overcrowded circumstances are able
easily to pay. Economic conditions force such families to find accommodation in
the cheapest of rooms, usually in houses with low rents and below the general
standard of fitness.
The owner of such houses, with a low rent income and increased maintenance
repairs, finds himself unable economically to keep the houses in repair.
In my view the Corporation would be meeting a very great need if a small block
of tenements could be provided to house families in indigent circumstances, at a
rent not exceeding 7s. 6d. per week.
I believe that such accommodation would do much to remove the sordid
conditions under which some families live, and assist considerably the development
of good citizenship among the younger members of the families.
It should be remembered that a house cannot be condemned because it is
overcrowded. The remedy should be to remove the overcrowding, and I must
emphasize that this can only be done in many instances where houses are available
at very cheap rents.
(c) Fitness of Houses.—With the exception of the houses situated in the
older and poorer quarter of the town, the standard of fitness and the amenities available
are good.
The older houses occupy much of the time of the sanitary inspectors in securing
the maintenance of habitable conditions.
(d) Unhealthy Areas.—In March, 1931, official representations were made to
the Council that 69 premises (62 of which were occupied), housing 75 families,
were unfit for occupation and should be demolished.