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36
HOUSING
By the outbreak of the second World War considerable progress had been
made in slum clearance. . Unfortunately, however, present day housing in the
borough still presents many unsatisfactory features. The survey now in progress
confirms the view that a number of houses have reached the stage when
they can only be regarded as "worn out" and not repairable at reasonable cost.
Many of the smaller type houses are in a dilapidated condition; they lack
reasonable modern amenities and are frequently occupied by more than one
family unit, Now that restrictions on building have been greatly eased and
materials and labour are in adequate supply, it is hoped that property structurally
sound but dilapidated as a result of neglect in recent years will be
brought up to a reasonable standard. A considerable number of underground
rooms are in use as separate dwellings and many will in due course have to be
considered for closure. In various parts of the borough many three and four
storied dwellings erected for single family occupation in the days of larger
families are now occupied by three or more families; this type of property is
usually structurally sound and should in most cases be capable of conversion
into self-contained, adequately equipped units.
The following interesting extract is taken from the 1875 Annual Report of
the Medical Officer of Health to the Board of Works for the Hackney District:"The
enormous increase in the number of inhabitants since 1801 has, of
course, very materially changed the character of the district, and transformed
it from a rural place of residence into almost a large city. The class of
inhabitants has also changed, as in the earlier periods the majority of houses
were large and occupied chiefly by persons who had retired from business or
who were otherwise possessed of a good income, Now, however, a majority of
the houses are comparatively small, as in 1869 more than half were assessed
below £25 a year. With this alteration in the character of the houses there
has been a corresponding change in the class of residents, so that we now have
a large proportion of poor receiving parochial relief as well as a very considerable
number of those who depend for their subsistence on their weekly
wages. A greatly increased density of population has also obtained, so that
instead of less than four persons to the acre in 1801 and nearly 11 persons in
1841, we now have about 38 inhabitants to each acre.
As regards many of the defects in houses met with during our inspections,
I have to report that they were found in both old and new houses, and arose
from the manner and the material's from which they were constructed. Many of
the small houses and some of the larger have been built either on the sod, or
still worse on rubbish foundations: the bricks and mortar have scarcely
deserved their names; the plastering has frequently been done with a mixture
of fine sifting of house refuse; the woodwork was badly put together and
made of ill=seasoned wood, which speedily shrank and gave rise to draughts and
consequent colds and rheumatism. These and many other evils which obtain in
the present manner of building houses would have been prevented, if the Building
Bill, introduced more than once by the Metropolitan Board of Works into
the House of Commons, had become law "
HOUSING ACT, 1936
Part II (Provisions for securing the repair, maintenance and sanitary condition
of houses).
SECTION 4 (Information to tenants). Failure to include in rent books the
name and address of the Medical Officer of Health, and/or the landlord or
other person responsible for keeping the house in all respects fit for human
habitation was reported in 24 instances. Notices drawing attention to the
omissions and warning that failure to comply with the requirements of the