Editing Becontree (section)

===First tenants===
The LCC built the estate to rehouse people from London's [[East End of London|East End]], who were displaced by [[Slum clearance in the United Kingdom|slum clearance]]. The first residents were almost all relatively prosperous working-class families, such as factory workers and busmen.<ref>Jackson, p. 297.</ref> Prospective tenants were interviewed by London County Council officials in their homes to check their suitability and the size of family, their domestic standards and financial resources. The tenants came from the skilled working class in relatively secure jobs and earning slightly more than the average wage.<ref name="Open bus"/> At the time everyone marvelled at having [[Toilet#integral water closet|indoor toilets]] and a private garden, although the [[sash windows]] were extremely draughty, there was no insulation in the attics, and during the winter months very few people could afford enough coal to heat the bedrooms. The toilet, bath tap and a tap in the kitchen over a [[Wash copper|copper boiler]], which was used for both washing clothes and heating bath water, were all fed from a reservoir tank in the attic, which invariably froze on winter mornings, leaving the toilets unusable.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Eveleigh|first1=David J|title=Evolution of Building Elements|url=https://environment7.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionsample/Conweb/house_ages/elements/print.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307165422/https://environment7.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionsample/Conweb/house_ages/elements/print.htm|archive-date=2014-03-07|website=uwe 6 The Services of Victorian and Edwardian Houses 1850-1914 |access-date=8 January 2018|date=7 March 2014}}</ref> One clause in the contract of tenancy stipulated that children born to parents living on the estate would not be housed by the LCC and when the time came for them to establish their own homes, the relevant local authority would be expected to provide housing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1957/may/22/london-county-council-money-bill-by-order |title=London County Council (Money) Bill (By Order) (Hansard, 22 May 1957) |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=2016-11-24 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002133907/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1957/may/22/london-county-council-money-bill-by-order |date=22 May 1957 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Privet]] hedges (referred to as "evergreens" or "evers") were planted along the pavements at the end of every front garden and during the spring and summer months a squad of gardeners were employed to keep them in regulation height. Although the estate regulations stipulated that the gardens must be maintained in order, more than a few degenerated into virtual jungles. However, to encourage the application of this rule, prizes were awarded for the best kept gardens. Initial candidates were selected by the rent collectors during their weekly rounds and a committee decided on the final prizes, which ranged from ten shillings consolation prizes up to £20 (an average week's rent in 1953 was about £1 18/- (£1.90)) for the first prize in each ward, plus a notice placed in the centre of the lawn for the benefit of passers-by.