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book or similar document used in relation to dwelling houses must contain the following
information:—
1. After the day of an occupier who causes or
permits his dwelling to be overcrowded is liable to prosecution for an offence under the Housing
Act, 1936, and, if convicted, to a fine not exceeding five pounds. Any part of a house which
is occupied by a separate family is a "dwelling."
2. A dwelling is overcrowded if the number of persons sleeping in it is more than the
"permitted number," or is such that two or more of those persons, being ten years old or over,
of opposite sexes (not being persons living together as husband and wife), must sleep in the
same room.
3. The " permitted number " for the dwelling to which this (Rent Book) ( )
relates is persons. In counting the number of persons each child under ten years
of age counts as half a person, and a child of less than one year is not counted at all.
4. The Act contains special provisions relating to overcrowding already existing on
the above-mentioned date or which is due to a child attaining the age of either one or ten years
after that date, or which is due to exceptional circumstances. Full information about these
special provisions and all provisions as to overcrowding can be obtained free on application to
the Local Authority whose address is
The appointed day for Woolwich, as fixed by the Minister of Health for the
purposes of this Section, was the 1st July, 1936.
The Council are under obligation on the application of either the landlord
or the occupier to give in writing the permitted number of persons in respect of a
dwelling. During the latter part of 1936 the great majority of working class
dwelling houses in the Borough were measured to enable this to be done, but the work
was not completed by the beginning of 1937. Because of this it was necessary to
retain the temporary staff engaged for this work for a few weeks, particularly for
the purpose of preparing "permitted number" notices. The work, however, was
completed by the beginning of March. In addition measurements had to be made,
and permitted number notices issued, in respect of new houses built during the
year. The number of houses measured during the year was 2,092. The number of
permitted number notices supplied to landlords and occupiers was 17,849. Most
of these were in respect of houses measured in 1936.
The overcrowding provisions of the Housing Act have been in effect in Woolwich
now for a complete year and it is possible to furnish a normal return under the
heading "Overcrowding" above. At the end of 1936 the number of dwellings
overcrowded was 530. During the year 44 new cases of overcrowding were discovered
and 184 cases were relieved. The number of families living in overcrowded
conditions at the end of the year was 390. This figure is given with reserve. Without a
detailed survey of every house in the Borough it is not possible to say that these are
the only overcrowded families in Woolwich. The figure simply means the number
of families known to be living under overcrowded conditions.
Local authorities have played quite a small part in this partial relief of overcrowding
in the Borough. It was found that 25 families had become sufficiently
reduced in number through persons leaving to get married and taking up house
on their own, or through death. Additional accommodation for overcrowded