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areas of old properties—80 to 100 years old—the relic of an age which
had a low hygienic standard. Some of these properties have already
reached the end of their effective life, and others will fall into that
category in a few years' time, thus indicating the need for a short'
term and a long-term policy of rehousing development.
Plans have already been prepared for building both temporary
and permanent houses, as soon as possible after the cessation of
hostilities, and when the supply of building materials and man-power
render this possible.
At the end of 1944 the demand for housing accommodation from
applicants having local residential qualifications was 1,064—comprising
3,375 persons. This included 163 young families comprising
432 persons who had married during the War and continued to reside
with their parents or friends—all Council House tenants—resulting
in overcrowding and family discord owing to lack of space and of
adequate domestic facilities.
In addition to this, there is evidence of 34 cases of overcrowding,
but this does not represent the full extent of overcrowding in Council
Houses although in the year 1936 the Council complied with the
requirements of the Overcrowding Act by building 110 new houses
to rehouse all known cases of overcrowding previously reported.
As is now well known, Richmond is almost a built-up area and
the amount of land available for building at the present time is not
sufficient to meet present-day housing needs.
WARTIME REHOUSING, BILLETING and EVACUATION.
Some details of the many and varied duties carried out consequent
upon enemy action, dealing with the problems of evacuation, rehousing,
billeting and general care of the homeless, are set out in the
following tabular statement,