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55
Houses Let in Lodgings.
The number of houses on the register is 121. These
houses are kept under regular supervision.
In March, 1903, the Council adopted new bye-laws as to
houses let in lodgings. These differed from the existing
bye-laws in several respects, the most important being that
(1) the exemption clause was omitted, (2) the cubic air space
was increased, and (3) by an alteration of the definition of the
term " landlord," the responsibility for the structural
condition of the premises was thrown upon the owner. The
Local Government Board took exception to some of the
proposed alterations, and after some correspondence the
Council revised the bye-laws, which in their amended form
were adopted by the Council on February 10th, 1904. In June,
1904, the Local Government Board informed the Council that
owing to recent decisions in the High Court (which were to
the effect that certain of the bye-laws were invalid, as they
did not provide for notices to be served), they had caused their
model bye-laws to be revised, and the Board asked the Council
to consider the desirability of amending the proposed bye-laws
in a corresponding manner. The Council accordingly amended
the bye-laws so as to provide for the proper service of a notice
before taking legal proceedings against the keeper or landlord
for an offence against the bye-laws. The bye-laws as finally
amended were adopted by the Council on 14th September,
1904, and are now being considered by the Local Government
Board.
The following are the chief provisions of the amended
bye-laws as adopted on 14th September:—
1. In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise
requires, the following words and expressions have the
meanings hereinafter respectively assigned to them; that is
to say:—
"Council" means the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
"Lodging-house" means a house or part of a house
which is let in lodgings or occupied by members of
more than one family.