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105
Dangerous Structure Notices.
The number of these notices served during the last four years has been
as follows:—
1930—148; 1931—190; 1932—211; 1933—225.
These notices afford some indication of the dilapidation that is so common
in the Borough. In considering these figures it must be remembered
that they relate only to notices actually served and that a great deal of work
is carried out by owners in anticipation of the District Surveyor's Notice.
In the early part of this year a scheme of co-operation was suggested
by the London County Council the object of which was to prevent the
considerable expenditure occasioned by compliance with a dangerous structure
notice being incurred in respect of houses that might more suitably be dealt
with by demolition order under the Housing Act.
Briefly the suggestion, made was that lists of houses of which it was
alleged that their condition was dangerous should be sent from County Hall
with a request to your Medical Officer of Health to state whether any of the
houses in question were in his opinion unfit for habitation and suitable for
demolition.
The Housing Committee of the Borough Council were then to be asked
to consider taking the necessary action to secure the demolition of such of
these houses as they were satisfied were unfit.
It is understood that the scheme in question has been put into operation
in a number of Metropolitan Boroughs, but its adoption was deferred in
Shoreditch pending discussion upon certain points, and at the time of writing
the matter is still under consideration.
Underground Rooms.
In last year's report the number of underground rooms in this Borough
occupied in such a manner as to contravene the provisions of Section 18 of
the Housing Act, 1925, was estimated at 2,000.
As a result of the housing campaign inaugurated by the Ministry of
Health this estimate and the question of underground rooms generally have
both received considerable attention.
It must be emphasized that in the absence of a special inspection of the
Borough this estimate of 2,000 is only approximate, but the further general
consideration given to the problem has not served to indicate that it requires
revision.