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a re-survey at the close of the year of known cases of overcrowding
162 had been found to have become decrowded, whilst an additional
9 cases of overcrowding were observed.
It would appear that one half of the cases of overcrowding
revealed on the initial survey have been relieved in the past two
years. This rate of progress is not unexpected, but would not
continue unless rehousing provision were made for many of the
remaining cases. These large families remaining constitute the
real problem of overcrowding.
Only 32 of the programme of 132 of houses for decrowding
have been proceeded with, and at the close of the year none of
these was completed. Of these 32 houses in course of construction,
17 have 5 bedrooms, 13 have 4 bedrooms, and 2 have 3
bedrooms. The task of supplying information as to permitted
numbers to Owners has been heavy, and has continued to employ
fully the special inspector. The appointed day was fixed for East
Ham as 1st July, ,1937, and the department has since been inundated
with requests for information. It is believed that the prevention
of overcrowding by the mere supply of this information
has been considerable, though perhaps immeasurable.
(b) Slum Clearance.
At the close of 1936, Clearance Orders in respect of 48 houses
in certain small areas had been confirmed. At the close of 1937
none of these families had been rehoused, the replacement houses
only becoming available in March, 1938.
A further 55 caravans in 17 enclosures were included in five
clearance areas declared by the Council. Two other small clearance
areas involving 11 houses were also declared, and an additional
area comprising 51 houses at North Woolwich was under
consideration at the close of the year. Individual representations
were also made to the Council in respect of 3 unfit dwelling-houses.
(c) Maintenance of Houses.
The standard of housing in this Borough is reasonably good,
and one of the most important features of the inspectorial work is
the maintenance of property to that standard. As indicated last
year, systematising of the inspections, and the adoption of a
uniform specification of repairs have been the important factors in
the qualitative improvement in housing maintenance in East Ham.