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(2) The causes of overcrowding are referred to on page 82.
(3) Measures taken or contemplated to deal with overcrowding. — In reference
to the building of houses, see I. (3) above. During 1919 serious cases of
overcrowding beyond the limits set by the tenement house by-laws were
dealt with by the Sanitary Inspectors by the service of notices.
(4) 28 intimations in regard to overcrowding were served during the year.
In no cases were proceedings taken. As the year progressed it became increasingly
difficult to deal with overcrowding, by reason of the inability of
tenants to find additional or alternative accommodation. A similar difficulty
was found in securing the evacuation of underground rooms illegally occupied
for sleeping purposes.
III.—Fitness of Houses.
(1) (a) General standard of housing.
(b) General character of the defects found to exist in unfit houses.—
The housing defects in St. Pancras are discussed in some detail on
pages 81-86. Apart from the structural faults dealt with on those
pages, the principal defects are in the nature of dilapidations.
(2) Details as to action taken in regard to unfit houses under (a) the Public
Health (London) Act, etc., will be found on pages 18 and 19 ; and (b) the
Housing Acts on pages 91 and 92.
(3) Difficulties in remedying unfitness, special measures taken, and any
suggestions in the matter.—In this connection the Borough Council decided
on 4th February, 1920, that a complete house-to-house inspection of the
borough should be undertaken, and although the matter belongs to the year
1920, the questions under this heading may best be answered by setting out
in full the Medical Officer of Health's report on the proposal:—
Town Hall,
Pancras Road, N.W. 1.
15th April, 1920.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In accordance with your request I have to submit the following report
in reference to the Council's instruction to the Committee that an inspection
of all the houses in the borough is to be undertaken.
Since your last consideration of the matter, the position has been made
clearer by the submission by the London County Council for the observations
of the borough councils of draft bye-laws with respect to working-class tenement
houses under Sec. 26 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919.
These proposed bye-laws deal with the following matters:—
Air-space and the number and sex of occupants.
The provision of sinks and water-taps.
The provision of means of ventilation.
The cleanliness of houses and bedding.