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109.
the Borough Council on the site of the Swan Brewery;
in most cases the applicants are living under overcrowded
conditions or are suffering from some other
form of hardship (see special sections of this Report).
(3) The number of cases of overcrowding in which the
cubic space does not reach the very low standard laid
down in the London County Council Byelaws with
respect to houses divided into Separate Tenements.
(4) The number of underground rooms which are insufficiently
lighted and ventilated and undesirably occupied
for living and sleeping purposes. This is specially
the case in West Kensington but is also to be found
in Lillie and Walham Wards.
Overcrowding. Extent:—There has been some diminution
in the extent and severity of the overcrowding in
recent years but it is still a serious problem. The basis
adopted for judging its severity is the minimum cubic
space laid down in the London County Council Byelaws
for Lodging Houses. Other considerations are the
number of families in a house in excess of its capacity
and suitability. Allied to these is the number of rooms
required to enable members of the male and female sex
to be separated and to allow of cleanliness, decent upbringing
of children and a certain standard of comfort.
The effect on the health of the occupants is always
enquired into.
The causes of overcrowding:—The housing problem
has not been confined to our own generation but is to a
considerable extent a heritage of the past. Health
Authorities, social workers and legislators have long
worked for the betterment of housing conditions. but it
is only within comparatively recent times that a considerable
section of the community have become alive
to the prevalence of bad housing conditions
and their ill effects on health and morals.
The public conscience is now reflected in the Housing
Acts, especially the Act of 1930. which gives us a unique
opportunity to do constructive work. The main cause
of overcrowding and bad housing is poverty which until
recent years only affected the weekly wage earners.
Almost all sections of the population are however now
paying more than they can reasonably afford in rent.