View report page

30
rooms the permitted number in relation to the floor space in square feet.
When the extent of overcrowding had been ascertained the Council were
required to submit to the Minister a report showing the result of the
inspection and the number of new houses which would be required to abate
the overcrowding.
The Housing Act, 1935, (Operation and Overcrowding Provisions)
Order, 1936, dated 26th June, 1936, provided that in Hornchurch the
standard referred to above would come into force on the 1st January, 1937,
and that overcrowding which existed on that date would have to be dealt
with by the Council on the lines laid down in the Act. As from the 1st
January, 1937, rent books must contain a summary of the sections of the
Act which define overcrowding and also a statement of the permitted
number of persons in relation to the house.
Programme.
The Council were required to complete the inspection of the working
class houses in the District by the 1st April, 1936. They were also required
to submit before the 1st August, 1936, their proposals for the provision
of the number of houses required together with the types and accommodation
which were found to be necessary for the overcrowded families.
Method of Inquiry.
The Council gave instructions for a temporary staff to be engaged to
carry out the enumeration of dwellings and persons by calling at the
house and enquiring the number of rooms and occupiers. The particulars
thus obtained were entered directly on special forms and these when handed
in at the office were filed in streets and wards.
Staff.
Four enumerators were employed on this work temporarily from
January to April, for a total of 46 weeks. Temporary clerical assistance
was also provided in the office for tabulating the figures obtained.
The forms were scrutinised and all houses in which apparent overcrowding
was observed were at a later date measured by the Sanitary
Inspectors. It was necessary for the Sanitary Inspectors to give a considerable
amount of time to this work which included 493 houses.