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purposes, and these undertakings were accepted by the Council. By the end of the
year No. 47 had been vacated and early in 1937 demolition was completed. At the
time of writing No. 55 is empty.
UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
Owing to the difficulties experienced in re-housing the occupants of underground
rooms, it has not been possible to deal as a routine measure with the numerous basements
which are found in Shoreditch. Where the question of accommodating a
family occupying basement rooms has arisen, the opportunity of dealing with the
rooms as underground rooms is taken and 27 properties were inspected for this
purpose. Of these, 17 were reported for action under the Housing Act, 1935, Section
84, but as this was in the latter part of the year, the preliminary action had not been
completed by the end of the year. At the time of writing a number of these underground
rooms have been dealt with.
VERMINOUS HOUSES.
Disinfestation, by the cyanide method, of furniture, etc., of tenants moving into
this Council's flats was continued. During the year the contents of 31 houses were
dealt with in this way. The work was performed by a private firm under the supervision
of one of the Council's sanitary inspectors who has specialised in this type of
work. The tenants whose effects were dealt with were those moving into new flats
in Halley House, Pritchards Road, and to other flats which had become vacant.
REPAIR OF DEFECTS.
Housing Act, 1930, Section 17.
During 1936 the powers given by this section were used in respect of workingclass
dwelling-houses which are not likely to become the subject of clearance orders
for some time and which are generally occupied by a good type of tenant. The
following are particulars of the work done during the year under this section :—
Number of premises inspected 128
Number of premises where notices have been served 78
Number of premises where work has been satisfactorily completed 78
The total estimated cost of works required by notices amounted to £2,967 16s. Od.
Visits of re-inspection numbering 1,173 were made in connection with the supervision
ot repa rs required.
In a number of cases where inspections were being made, it was found that owners
had already instructed builders to do certain repairs. In these cases an inspection
was made, and in every instance the repairs so ordered by the owners were of such a
character that it was not necessary to serve notices.