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43
end. In the event of it being decided to make alterations, the following matters
are essential if the tenants are to be given reasonable accommodation:—
(1) Each tenement for a family should include proper scullery provision, with
water-tap and suitable sink, and if possible a bath.
(2) Separate and convenient w.c. accommodation for each family should be
aimed at.
(3) There should be to each tenement a proper cooking stove, a suitable food
cupboard with external ventilation, and facilities for storing coal and house
refuse, and for washing clothes.
In some St. Pancras houses these requirements might be met without complete
rebuilding, by the building of a sanitary annexe at the rear, giving to each floor a
balcony, w.c., and scullery (or bathroom-scullery).
In the above statement I have not entered into the question of what number
of rooms should be considered as the minimum requirement of a family. Clearly
there ought to be at least one living room, not used as a bedroom, and a sufficient
number of bedrooms to admit of a decent separation of sleepers of opposite
sexes. For a married couple with one young child one bedroom may be sufficient,
but where there are boys and girls in the family, at least three bedrooms are
required, one for the parents, one for the boys, and one for the girls. In arranging
for permanent alterations in a tenement-house the needs of sucl) families requiring
at least four rooms should be considered.
T. SHADICK HIGGINS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Inspection of Dwelling-houses.
The inspections of dwelling-houses made during the year will be seen in
table 5 on page 67, where they are divided into those following infectious
disease, those made upon complaint, those carried out under the Housing, Town
Planning, etc., Act, 1909, inspection of registered tenement houses other than
the preceding, and other house-to-house inspections.
Underground Rooms.
During the year letters were sent in respect of 32 underground rooms (in
30 houses) which did not comply with the requirements of the Housing, Town
Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and the Regulations made thereunder. 14 closing
orders in respect of underground rooms (in 14 houses) were made.
In addition 9 intimation notices were served in regard to underground rooms
illegally occupied as dwellings.
Houses unfit for Human Habitation.
Only one house (36, Ferdinand Place) was represented during 1916 as unfit
(16th February), and a closing order was made by the Council in respect of it.
Closing orders were determined in respect of 14 houses (11-20, Equity
Buildings and 3-6, St. George's Mews),