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72
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1931.
proportion of families affected by this shortage may he as
high as 10 per cent.
No important changes in the population have occurred
during the period under review.
There is a difficulty in obtaining suitable sites for
the erection of houses as most of the land in the Borough has
now been built on. The high price of land accentuates the
difficulty.
3. Overcrowding.
(a.) Extent of Overcrowding.
It is impossible to give an accurate estimate of the amount
of overcrowding which exists owing to lack of complete
information. Only a proportion of the cases are known.
It is possible that 5 per cent. of the families in the Borough
are living in accommodation which is insufficient having
regard to the number of persons in the family and their ages
and sexes.
(b.) Causes of Overcrowding.
This appears to be due mainly to inability to pay the
rent for other accommodation and to the shortage of houses
for those who are unable to afford more than 12s. (id. per
week.
(c.) Special Action to deal with Overcrowding.
From time to time cases of overcrowding are accommodated
in one of the Borough Council's houses. Facilities
are also given by the London County Council for housing
certain overcrowded families who are specially recommended
by the Borough Council. A number of cases of overcrowding
were dealt with during 1981 under these arrangements.
4. Fitness of Houses.
(a.) In some cases difficulties arise in keeping houses
in habitable condition under the Public Health or Housing
Acts.
Some owners are quite willing to carry out work after
notice but require a long time to complete it. Cases of this