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5
During the year about 70 houses have been
built, which with the 20 mentioned means the
addition of some 500 inhabitants, independent of the
increase in the ordinary way.
Work has also been done under the Housing
of the Working Classes Act.
The old houses in Sun Passage have been
repaired, the yard paved, and additional closet
accommodation provided.
Some houses at Norbiton, known as Fuller's
Rents, are being dealt with, and it is hoped that they
will either be put into a proper state of repair or
else pulled down.
Other property in the neighbourhood of the
Back-lanes has been reported on, and three tumbledown
houses have been closed, and will shortly be
removed.
The working of this Act is a great improvement
upon the old procedure, but it still remains very
tedious business when it is necessary to deal with an
obstructive and litigious owner. However, by
constantly pegging away I hope in the course of
time to get all this class of property either renovated
past recognition, or pulled down to make way for
healthier homes.
Houses of a somewhat higher rental and let to
single tenants, and not in tenements, have also been
dealt with under this Act, and also under the Public
Health Act, 1875. Drains have been removed from
under the houses and laid in concrete outside, with
proper disconnecting traps and inspection chambers.
Dampness has been remedied in basements by the
construction of dry areas and the laying of concrete
beneath the floors. A great difficulty in dealing
with dampness in houses built from 30 to 50 years