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The chief reasons for the increases in recent years were the additional
visits required to be paid under the Housing Act, 1935, to detect overcrowding
which existed, and latterly to ascertain the maximum number
of persons which could reside in houses suitable for accommodating
members of the working classes in the District, in order that the
ascertained figures could be inserted in the rent books as required by
the Housing Act, 1936, sec. 62.
In view of the fact that the majority of the houses in the District
are good class dwellings in very good condition, about 60 per cent,
having been built in the last 17 years, the task of relieving overcrowding
has been a light one locally, while no slums or undue congestion of
property exist with which to deal.
In the original survey for overcrowding 21 cases were detected.
At the end of 1937 five of these cases and others found subsequently
remained for attention. During 1938, three additional cases were discovered
and 4 relieved, hence there were 4 cases outstanding at the end of the
year. Three of these cases were remnants of the original cases. In one
case the owner-occupier has been granted a licence permitting the present
number of occupants to continue in residence for one year. The other
2 original cases remained unrelieved at the end of 1938.
HOUSING STATISTICS.
1. Inspection of Dwelling Houses during the Year:—
(1) (a) Total number of houses inspected for housing defects
(under Public Health or Housing Acts) 1,135
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose 1,160
(2) (a) Number of dwelling houses (included under sub-head
(1) above) which were inspected and recorded under
the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 7
(.b) Number of inspections made for the purpose 7
(3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so
dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human
habitation —
(4) Number of dwelling houses (exclusive of those referred to
under the preceding sub-head) found not to be in all
respects reasonably fit for human habitation 321
2. Remedy of Defects during the Year without Service of
Formal Notices:—
Number of defective dwelling houses rendered fit in
consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or
their Officers 289
40