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44
Sewer Maintenance Treatments.
All seweis in the Borough were treated in July, 1951.
Owing to a temporary shortage of staff, the second treatment
in December, 1951, was abandoned, with the consent of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries, when two-thirds completed.

HOUSING.
Complaints.
During the year 1,880 complaints were received and
investigated. The nature of the complaints included sanitary
defects in houses, drains choked or defective, premises infested with
vermin, etc.
Figures in themselves cannot give a true picture of the amount
of benefit derived from compliance with notices issued. To get
this it has to be borne in mind that in each case some undesirable
condition has been rectified, oi some improvement effected in the
home. Until more houses for occupation become available, it is not
possible to tackle the housing problem radically. Since 1939 the
houses have aged, depreciated and fallen into disrepair; and the
completion of war damage repairs from time to time has been the
salvation of many dwellings that would otherwise have become
entirely unfit for human habitation.
An important aspect of the housing situation, often overlooked,
is that in Leyton a high percentage of dwelling-houses
originally designed to house one family are now let in two or more
flats, the result being that the tenants have to share the same
amenities :—water supply, toilet facilities, scullery sink arrangements,
washing accommodation and cooking facilities. Moreover,
few houses have bathrooms or food cupboard accommodation,