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Notices were served under the Public Health Act specifying certain
alterations, and a substantial improvement in the area has already
been secured. One house has been demolished and rebuilt from
the foundations by the owner, and the owner of 4 of the worst
houses in the area is carrying into effect a scheme for demolishing
those houses and replacing them by proper dwellings. Several
houses have been extensively renovated, and others are now being
dealt with on similar lines.
As to the Netherwood Street area, it was decided to increase
the number of houses registered as houses let in lodgings, and
accordingly 63 houses were added to the register during the year.
With the present staff, however, it is not possible to exercise a
really effective supervision over the tenement houses, and it is to be
feared that without an increase of staff the area will not be substantially
improved.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
The number of houses registered as houses let in lodgings at
the end of 1907, was 315 as against 239 in 190G. The registered
houses are situated chiefly in the following streets :—
Fleet Road.
Dunboyne Street.
Fairfax Mews.
Bolton Road.
Netherwood Street.
Linstead Street.
Lowfield Road.
Kelson Street.
The condition of these houses has improved since they have
been placed upon the register, but the beneficial effect of registration
will not be secured until the houses are more frequently inspected,
and this will not be practicable without an increase in the sanitary
staff. The number of tenement houses in Hampstead that need to
be dealt with under the bye-laws relating to houses let in lodgings
is over 800, but unless these houses can be periodically inspected,
nothing is gained by placing them on the register.
The " Living -in " System.
During the year several cases of scarlet fever occurred among a
number of shop assistants who were employed on the "living-in"
system. An inspection was consequently made of the premises in
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