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151
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
14 houses have been represented during 1902 to the Borough
Council by the Medical Officer of Health under Part II. of the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, as being unfit for
human habitation on account of (1) the premises being dwellinghouses
built over stables, with the living rooms communicating
directly with the stables, the effluvia from which ventilate into
such living rooms; and (2) defective drains, unpaved yards, and
the positions of the w.C.'s within living rooms and communicating
directly therewith. These houses have been already put, or are
being put, into proper sanitary states, and in no single instance
has it been found necessary to permanently close, and therefore
displace the tenants. As may be expected, fewer and fewer
houses are found to be sufficiently bad to require action under
Part II. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, as years go
on, on account of the good work being done under the usual
notices served by the Inspectors daily (10,000 notices being
served annually on an average). This fact must be remembered
in gauging the work done by the Borough Council in connection
with the carrying out of statutory duties under the Housing Acts.
Four blocks of labouring-class dwellings (erected by the London
and South-Western Railway Company) have been completed
during 1902. They are situated in Miles Street, South Lambeth
Road, and are models of what such buildings should be.
The scheme of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the erection
of cottages, etc., in the Webber Street and Ufford Street
area has made great progress during the year 1902.
The question has been raised by the Council (March 20th,
1902) as to opening up, and improving, the network of narrow
courts between Lambeth Walk and St. Alban's Street. The
houses referred to are in fair sanitary condition, and cannot,
therefore, be dealt with under the Housing Acts as unfit for
human habitation, either singly or as forming an area.