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Overcrowding.—The Census Returns for 1921 showed that 89
families, representing 5.0 per cent. of the population in private
families, were living in conditions of more than two persons per room,
as against 39 families, representing 3.3 per cent. of the population, in
1911; the percentage of the population living under these conditions
in 1925 in the County generally was 4.3.
In 1921, among 1,442 dwellings containing less than six rooms,
107 were occupied by two families, and 4 by three families; 7.7 per
cent. of such dwellings were, therefore, occupied by two or more
families. The number of rooms per person, in houses containing not
more than 9 rooms, was 1.26 for the District, as against 1.21 for the
whole County; the corresponding figures in 1911 were similar, viz.,
1.25 for Carshalton and 1.20 for the County.
The erection of the Council's houses has no doubt since mitigated
the overcrowding, and it is now possible to deal with the majority
of such cases. In 1925, of eight cases discovered, three were abated
by the admission of families to Council houses, and four others by
removal to better accommodation elsewhere.
Fitness of Houses.—The number of houses in the District at
the Census, 1921, was more than twice the number at the Census,
1911; at least 60 per cent. of the houses in 1921 had been built under
the Bye-laws, and the percentage had increased to more than 70 per
cent. by the end of 1925.
Certain groups of houses require frequent attention, and these
have all been dealt with during the period under review.
Records of each house inspected in the past have been kept, and,
on the appointment of Mr. Spicer in May, a re-inspection of the
District was commenced, the envelope system for the preservation of
records being adopted. He reports that, of the 463 houses inspected
during the year, 15 per cent. were found to be in a very satisfactory
condition, 20 per cent. were in a bad state, and that the remainder
required attention to defects of various kinds. The character of the
defects is indicated in his report upon the works which were done
under notice, on page 10.
In some instances the poverty of owners has led to delay in carrying
out the requirements, and in others the employment of inexperienced
workmen has brought about only temporary improvement, with the
result that the unsatisfactory conditions have recurred, and re-inspection
has been necessary in a short time.
Housing Statistics for the Year 1925.
Number of new houses erected during the year:-
(a) Total 376
(b) With State assistance under the Housing
Acts :
(i.) By the Local Authority 18
(ii.) By other bodies or persons 27