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143
X.—HOUSING
OVERCROWDING
The special conditions which are found in Shoreditch made it impossible for the
Minister of Health to fix the "appointed day" during the year. Overcrowding in
this borough was therefore not an offence under the Housing Act, 1936. It has now
however been agreed to fix 1st April, 1938, as the appointed day for section 62 of the
Housing Act, 1936, and 1st October, 1938, as the appointed day for sections 6 (2),
59, 60 and 64 of the Act in respect of overcrowding provisions.
The overcrowding survey which was carried out during 1935 brought to light
the fact that 72 families living in properties owned by the Borough Council were overcrowded.
At the end of 1937 twenty-nine families were still overcrowded. Of the
8 families dealt with 4 were rehoused by the London County Council and 4 by the
Borough Council.
Action taken in respect of overcrowding.
During the year 1937, 269 cases of overcrowding were abated as a result of enquiry
and action by the sanitary staff, and in some cases as a result of reports to the Housing
Committee. The London County Council accommodated 78 of these families and in the
other 191 instances the accommodation was obtained from other sources. In addition
to these cases 89 families were re-housed by the London County Council in connection
with their slum clearance programme and 10 cases dealt with as a result of representations
made to the London County Council regarding the health of certain members
of the family.
Whilst a certain amount of relief of overcrowding is being steadily effected by
official housing activities, it is apparent that many more families are being accommodated
as a result of their own efforts. There are of course other factors which have a
bearing on the subject. Any information which is available is therefore incomplete,
and does not form a proper basis for an accurate estimate of the number of houses
which are overcrowded or of families which are still living under overcrowded conditions.
At the time of writing this report a detailed survey of the borough is in
progress and full particulars will be available for the next report.
CLEARANCE AREAS
During the year the London County Council declared the following to be clearance
areas under section 25 of the Housing Act, 1936
Foundry Place area.
Lyndoch Street area.
Wilks Place (Nos. 1 and 2) areas.
Britannia Gardens (Nos. 1, 2 and 2a) areas.
Long Street (Nos. 1, 1a and 2) areas.