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Overcrowding.—The Census returns for 1921, quoted on page 5,
showed that 75 families, representing 4.1 per cent, of the population in
private families, were living under conditions of more than two persons per
room, as against 71 families, representing 4.9 per cent, of the population,
in 1911 ; the percentage of the populationliving under these conditions in
1921 in the County generally was 4.3.
At the Census, 1921, the number of rooms per person, in houses
containing not more than 9 rooms, was 1.14 for the District, as against
1.21 for the whole County.
Sixteen cases of overcrowding were discovered in 1925; some of them
were of a minor character, and five of them were abated by re arrangement
of the sleeping accommodation, or the use of one of the living rooms as a
bedroom. The worst cases were in four five-roomed houses, occupied
respectively by two families, consisting of ten adults and two children ; by
three families, in two instances, consisting of eight adults and eight children,
and six adults and six children respectively ; and by four families, consisting
of seven adults and three children.
Fitness of Houses.— More than a half of the number of working-class
dwellings are modern, and a considerable proportion of the older cottages
are of good construction, but there are certain groups of cottages which
require frequent attention. In 1925, out of 248 which were inspected,
general want of repair was reported in 99 cases, dampness in 68, want of
internal cleansing in 100, defective drainage in 37, and inadequate paving
of yards in 22.
In a large majority of the cases the defects were remedied without the
service of a formal notice, but in some instances only after considerable
delay.
The owner of two cottages, against which the Council made a Closing
Order, carried out works of repair, and the Order was determined. A
cottage which had been closed in 1924 was pulled down, and another house
was erected on the site.
Bye-laws.—Action was taken from time to time to enforce the
requirements of the Building Bye-laws. No proceedings under the
Bye-laws with respect to tents, vans and sheds were necessary during the year.
Housing Statistics for the Year 1925.—
Number of new houses erected during the year :—
(а) Total 189
(б) With State assistance under the Housing Acts:—
(i.) By the Local Authority 83
(ii.) By other bodies or persons 28
I.— Unfit Dwellimj-Houses. Inspection.
(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects
(under Public Health or Housing Acts) 248
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which were inspected and recorded
under the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910,
or the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 113