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49
Of the 43 large houses, 13 were sold, 1 let, the remaining 29 were not suitable
for adaptation into working class tenements.
Of the nine medium sized houses, 1 was sold, 3 were let and 2 were laundries,
leaving only three available for letting.
Of the 39 small houses, 2 cottages were closed by the Council as unfit for human
habitation, 32 have been closed for some years and in several cases the houses are past
repair, and in 5 instances the tenement to let was situated over stables.
The total number of tenements to let was 16.
Of this number:—
2-roomed tenement
3-roomed tenement.
Over three-roomed
tenement.
2 were tenements over shops.
1 was " to let " with shop.
2 were uninhabitable (Basements closed).
1 tenement over shop.
1 " to let " with shop.
1 tenement over shop.
1 tenement " let " but not occupied.
Leaving only what appeared to be 7 available tenements for working class people.
Since the above was prepared the empty houses and tenements have become
less, so that at the end of the year it became practically impossible for a working class
family to find a habitable dwelling or tenement " t'O let."
(II.) Overcrowding.
Extent and Causes.—It is practically impossible without taking a census of the population
to state definitely the extent to which overcrowding exists, and it is also difficult to form
a reliable estimate.
The establishment during the last few years of numerous munition and other factories brought
into the district from other parts of the country several hundred families of the skilled
artizan and labouring classes.
This added population, together with the stoppage of building operations creating a shortage
of housing accommodation, led to a crowding together of families in the existing houses.
At the Census in 1911 the number of persons per room in Willesden was 1.007. Taking into
consideration all the factors relative to housing and population, I estimate that at the
present time the number of persons per room will not fall far short of 1.075.
Measures Contemplated to Deal with Overcrowding.—As stated elsewhere in the report
the Council contemplate erecting over 600 houses with a view to lessening the crowding
together of families.
Action taken during 1919.—Individual cases of overcrowding coming to the knowledge
of the Health Department are dealt with by its Officers and action taken in all
cases to remedy the same. No legal action was taken during the year.
(III.) Fitness of Houses.
1. (a) General Standard of Housing in the District. The standard of houses in Willesden
on the whole compares favourably with other towns of equal size and population.
Building activities during the last 25 years have built up thousands of houses, all of which
have been constructed on modern principles of sanitation.
In the older portions of the district whereliouses were built before the days of Urban Councils
and before Building Bye-laws became operative there are many houses the general
standard of fitness of which is bad.
These broken down or worn out houses call for constant supervision on the part of the officers
of the Health Department and form the bulk of the work under the Housing (Inspection
of District) Regulations.
(b) The General Characters of the Defects Found to Exist in Unfit Houses are:—
Dampness of walls, caused by absence of or perished damp-proof courses, earth or
other deposits above damp-proof courses, defective gutters and rain water pipes;
leaky roofs ; absence of or defective paving of yards ; defective or perished plastering;
choked or defective drains ; windows—perished woodwork ; defective ventilation;
staircase—worn out treads ; floors—worn out floor boards ; dirty and uncovered cisterns;
grates and ranges broken and unusable ; W.C.'s insufficiently supplied with water;
offensive accumulations or deposits in yards ; insufficient food storage accommodation;
woodwork generally perished and rotten and brickwork generally perished or pointing
defective.
2. (a) Action Taken as regards Unfit Houses under the Public Health Act, 1875:—
The total number of houses inspected from house to house during the year and dealt
with under the Public Health Act, 1875 was 278.