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110
Underground Rooms.
It is estimated that there are in occupation in the Borough some 2,000
underground rooms which do not comply with the requirements contained in
Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1925.
The great difficulty experienced by poor people in finding reasonable
accommodation within their means is well illustrated by the fact that it has
proved necessary to allow these rooms to continue in occupation.
Rent Restrictions Acts.
A large proportion, some 90 per cent, of the rents in Shoreditch are controlled.
Under these Acts the Sanitary Authority may issue cerificates
enabling tenants to withhold the allowed 40 per cent increase in rent until
such time as the landlord has done the work necessary to put the house in a
reasonable state of repair.
The number of these certificates issued during each of the last six years
has been as follows : —
1927—2; 1928—5; 1929—1; 1930—3; 1931—1; 1932—4.
The Provost Street Site.
In the last report mention was made of negotiations concerning certain
empty houses in the possession of the London County Council. The houses
referred to are situated in Provost, Custance, Marsom and Moneyer Streets.
They are 53 in number and contain some 270 rooms. About ten years ago
these houses were purchased by the London County Council for the purpose
of demolition to provide a school site. Until the end of 1928 they were
allowed to remain tenanted and were kept in repair. Since that date, however,
they have gradually been emptied and at the present time only six or
seven are occupied. No repairs are being undertaken and they are becoming
more and more dilapidated.
As it was understood that it was no longer the intention of the London
County Council to build a school upon this site, representations have been
made to the County Council by the Health Committee requesting that these
properties might in one way or another be utilized to relieve the overcrowding
in the Borough, and to assist in providing the accommodation necessary in
connection with Housing Schemes.
At the time of writing there is good reason to hope that a satisfactory
scheme regarding these houses will be announced in the near future.
DERELICT PROPERTY.
At the same time that the Provost Street site was under consideration, the
Housing Committee reviewed generally the question of derelict house
property.