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30
Houses Let in Lodgings.
At the end of the year there were 13 registered Houses Let
in Lodgings, to which 47 visits were paid.
Two applications for registration were abandoned after
preliminary inspections owing to the cost of the alterations necessary
to comply with the bye-laws, whilst one house was vacated in order
that the premises could be completely reconditioned in accordance
with the requirements.
The standard required for Houses Let in Lodgings in this
district is, apart from that specified in the bye-laws, a separate
sink, water supply, food cupboard, and gas stove, and where
possible, a water closet and washing accommodation for each
family.
Overcrowding.
With the erection of factories in the southern part of the
district, overcrowding, as mentioned in last year's Report, has
become more prevalent in certain parts of the district.
The London County Council and the Dagenham Urban
District Council both exercise strict supervision OVER their properties.
Overcrowding is therefore confined to those houses built by private
enterprise. Owing to the practice adopted in some "factories
resulting in the instability of the occupation of the employees,
workmen with their families, who have migrated from all parts
of the country, are hardly in a position to contemplate house
purchase, and are therefore forced to take accommodation in
privately owned houses, with consequent overcrowding. The
situation, however, is not confined to families but includes the
case of single men who upon obtaining work in this district take
lodgings in various houses in the locality. Where several are
received in the same house, overcrowding frequently occurs.
What is the remedy ? In the case of the unmarried man,
it would seem that a hostel built and controlled by the local
authority would in all probability go a great way to solve the
difficulty. In the case of families, however, there seems to be
only the one solution, that is, that the local authorities with
houses in the district accept as tenants these locally employed
men.
With a view to abating, as far as possible, the overcrowding
of the houses in this district which are privately owned, routine
housing inspections are carried out by the Sanitary Inspectors.