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In four streets in the Notting Dale area there are six houses capable of receiving 229 single
women and six houses licensed to accommodate 292 single men. It is difficult to avoid the
conclusion that the presence of this population of 500 persons, who for the most part come from
the lowest ranks of society, must necessarily constitute an effective bar to the progress of social
reform in the neighbourhood where the common lodging houses are situated.
The inspection of common lodging houses is carried out by the inspectors of the London County
Council, who exercise effective control under a system of annual licensing. If a house is not kept
in conformity with the bye-laws, the renewal of the licence can be refused, and in this way the
necessity for resorting to the cumbersome procedure of prosecution for each offence as it arises is
avoided. The adoption of a similar system of annual licensing would materially strengthen the
hands of the Sanitary Inspectors in dealing with the worst class of houses let in furnished lodgings,
and special powers for the control of such houses are urgently needed.
Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910. —By these regulations the Local
Government Board have prescribed the methods to be adopted by Local Authorities in causing
inspections of their districts to be made with a view to ascertaining whether any dwelling houses
therein are unfit for habitation. The ten District Sanitary Inspectors and the Chief Sanitary
Inspector have been designated by the Council as the officers to undertake the preparation of lists
of houses, and to make the necessary inspections under the direction and supervision of the Medical
Officer of Health. Three hundred and sixteen houses were inspected, and in 284 cases defects were
remedied, and in the remaining 32 cases the conditions noted did not call for action.
Closing Orders.—During the year 9 houses were represented by the Medical Officer of Health
with a view to Closing Orders being made, and in 6 cases Closing Orders were determined, the
houses having been rendered fit for human habitation.
Underground Rooms.—ln 12 cases illegal occupation was discovered in underground rooms.
House to House Inspection.—ln addition to the inspections which have been carried out
with the formalities required by the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910, routine
house to house inspections have been made during the year for the purpose of detecting and
securing the remedy of sanitary defects. Excluding the inspections of registered lodging houses for
the purpose of enforcing the lodging house bye-laws, the total number of house to house inspections
proper amounted to 1,774.
Water Supply in Lodging Houses.—ln response to notices served under the London
County Council General Powers Act, 1907, an additional supply of water was provided in 56 lodging
houses above the level of the ground floor. In the greater number of cases in addition to the
water tap a sink was also supplied.
Customs and Inland Revenue Acts.—Under these Acts 63 certificates were granted by
the Medical Officer of Health during the year, in respect to 63 tenements in 31 houses containing
a total number of 80 separate dwellings.