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68
degree is a matter of common knowledge. The employment of statutory
measures to enforce the abatement of it is a course that your Council has
very reluctantly considered, having regard to the hopelessness of providing
adequate alternative accommodation. The cause of the overcrowding
is mainly due to the overflow from the London area. All that
it has been possible to do to relieve congestion in houses has been for
the Sanitary Inspectors to advise re-distribution of families in their
dwellings so as to make the best use of the available accommodation.
III. Fitness of Houses.
1. The general standard of housing in the area is tolerably good,
and particulars of the defects found are referred to in the Table on page
59. These defects are due, in many instances, to lack of supervision
and proper care by the owners, and damage and neglect by the tenants.
2. The Table on page 69 indicates the general action that has
been taken under the Housing and Public Health Acts with regard to unfit
houses. No insuperable difficulties have been found in having the
remedies effected. It will be observed, however, by reference to the Table
on page 56, that in two instances it was necessary to appeal to the Court
to recover monies expended in carrying out the work under Section 3 of
the Housing Act, 1925.
IV. Unhealthy Areas.
No complaints have been received, and no representations have
been made or action taken, with regard to Unhealthy Areas in the District
during the year.
V. Bye-Laws relating to Houses let in Lodgings, and to Tents,
Vans, Sheds, etc.
The Bye-Laws relating to Houses let in Lodgings are now obsolete,
and to be effective require to be revised, for, amongst other reasons, the
rentals specified under the existing Bye-Laws are much too low for present
purposes.
No action has been called for under the Tents, Vans and Sheds ByeLaws
during the year under review.
VI. General and Miscellaneous.
Any other matters relating to Housing engaging the attention of the
Department during the year have been set out in tabular form, and are
to be found on page 69 of this Report.