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B. Proceedings under Public Health Acts.
(1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which formal notices were served
requiring defects to be remedied 173
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in which defects were remedied after service of
formal notices :—
(a) By owners 168*
(b) By Local Authority in default of owners 11
C. Proceedings under Sections 11, 14 and 15 of the Housing Act, 1925.
(1) Number of representations made with a view to the making of Closing Orders 0
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were made 0
(3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were
mined, the dwelling-houses having been rendered fit 0
(4) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made 0
(5) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders **2
* Includes a certain number outstanding in 1929.
** Demolition Orders made in 1928.
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
1. General Observations as to Housing Conditions.—The housing conditions in
Willesden vary greatly. In some parts of the area the houses are of good class, but in other parts
really bad housing conditions prevail. In South Kilburn, for example, houses are occupied by several
families. Originally these houses were constructed for occupation by one family and have not been
specially adapted for use by several families. The result is that they are not provided with the
sanitary accommodation, including sinks, water closets and washing arrangements, necessary or
suitable for four, five or more families. Fortunately for the health of the inmates of these houses,
the rooms are large and airy. In some other parts of the area better housing conditions prevail,
but owing to the overcrowded state of many properties and the consequent considerable usage constant
visits by the Sanitary Inspectors are necessary to maintain them in a fair state of repair.
There are approximately :—
3,110 houses over 50 years old.
5,040 „ between 40 and 50 years old.
7,880 „ „ 30 and 40 „ „
6,730 „ „ 20 and 30 „ „
890 „ „ 10 and 20 „ „
6,070 ,, built within the last 10 years.
The general character 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
accumulation or deposits in yards; insufficient food storage accommodation; woodwork generally
perished and brickwork generally perished or pointing defective.
2. Sufficiency of Supply of Houses.—(a) In Willesden at the present time there is a serious
shortage of houses, more especially of that type of house suitable for occupation by the working
classes.
During the past 10 years, 2,695 houses have been erected for persons of the working classes,
namely, 1,008 by the Council and 1,687 by private enterprise. Of this latter figure practically all were
built for sale and from information received from the builders, at least 50 per cent, were sold to purchasers
other than Willesden residents.
(b) The erection of factories in the North-East and South-West areas has increased the number
of the artisan classes requiring accommodation.
(c) It is estimated there are approximately 80 acres of building land available within the District
of which the Council has recently acquired 15 acres for housing purposes. The remainder has been
purchased by private concerns who are erecting properties for sale only.
3. Overcrowding.—(a) Extent. 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.
(b) Causes. Vacant houses or rooms to be let are few, and insufficient to cope with the demand,
with the result that rents charged are correspondingly high and beyond the means of the average
worker, many of whom are unemployed, which leads to sub-letting.
(c) Six overcrowded families were allocated accommodation on the Council's estates.
4. Fitness of Houses.—(a) No great difficulty arises in working the Public Health Acts
or Housing Acts excepting:—
(1) Delays are occasioned by work being carried out in a piece-meal manner, necessitating
frequent visits by the Sanitary Inspectors before the work is finally completed.
(2) The absence of any standard—the Officers of the Council having to accept indifferent
workmanship, which although remedying the defects, is not of a lasting character, so that these
defects recur within a short time.