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80
damp and dilapidated. Notices served, and works executed
by the owner.
Thornford Road.—Two houses, unoccupied for a considerable
time. Certified as unfit December 1st. Required
works executed by owner.
The greater facilities given to obtain the speedy
closing of premises unfit for habitation by the Housing of the
Working Classes Act, 1903, will be of great value. It will
obviate the necessity of notice where houses are not reasonably
capable of being made fit for habitation, and prevent the owners
on the receipt of notice executing temporary work, which
although unsatisfactory, is often just sufficient to prevent the
Council making application for closing orders.
On the 14th December the following special report was
submitted to the Housing of the Working Classes Committee
"Shortly after my appointment in 1901, I was requested
to prepare a report as to the number of houses let at various
rentals in the Borough, together with certain information as to
overcrowding, and the necessity or otherwise of further accommodation
for the housing of the working classes.
"At that time very little material was available, and I am
glad to have had an opportunity of enlarging upon the information
previously laid before the Committee.
"In formulating the present report I have endeavoured as
far as practicable to confine my attention to streets and houses
occupied by the working classes.
"With regard to rent, the average rentals of houses in
various streets, have been extracted from the rate books.
"From the facts I have been able to collect, it would
appear that the rentals paid by the working classes (labourers,
mechanics and others), range from 4s. to 12s. per week.