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The three houses referred to above also have no watercloset or other adequate
sanitary accommodation within their own cutilage; the waterclosets, common to
the three houses, are in the mews outside the actual curtilage of the residential
premises. The accommodation is sufficient for the number of persons living in the
houses.
(5) Unhealthy Areas.
During the year the Housing of the Working Classes Committee considered a
report from the Medical Officer of Health respecting the desirability of dealing with
a small site (28 houses) as an unhealthy area. Particulars of the area were
furnished to the London County Council who intimated that the area was not of
sufficient size or importance to warrant its being dealt with by the London County
Council who would not be disposed to make an improvement scheme under Part II
of the Housing Act, 1925, in respect of the area, and expressed the opinion that if
such scheme were considered desirable it should be undertaken by the Borough
Council. After careful consideration and viewing the property the Housing
Committee were of opinion that an improvement scheme was undesirable but that
individual houses on the site found to be unfit for human habitation should be
dealt with as individual insanitary houses. This course was adopted and 13
houses were so represented, these being part of the 15 representations referred to
above. Ten houses were demolished by the owners without the necessity of formal
representation. The remaining five houses on the site continued to be occupied for
dwelling purposes, their condition not calling for representation.
(6) By-laws Relating to Houses.
Four hundred and ninety-three houses in the Borough are registered under the
By-laws with respect to houses divided into separate tenements or occupied by
members of more than one family. During the year there were 824 inspections of
such houses.
One hundred and forty-two notices were served for breaches of the By-laws,
and in addition 493 notices were served respecting the annual cleansing required by
the By-laws.
The operation of a number of By-laws made by the London County Council
with respect to houses intended to be used for occupation by the working classes
and let in lodgings or occupied by more than one family is suspended. The
Holborn Council has expressed the view that with the exception of the By-law
dealing with air space the suspension should be discontinued so far as decontrolled
houses are concerned.
Common Lodging Houses.
The common lodging house accommodation in the Borough is equal to 22
beds per 1,000 of the population. The death-rate amongst common lodging house
residents is very high; in this Borough it was 53 per 1,000 in 1930.