View report page

"(iii.) HOUSE-TO-HOUSE INSPECTION —In the early part of
this year I introduced a house-to-house inspection slip, which
required the Inspectors to make a much more detailed inspection
of each house than had been customary in the past. My object
in doing so was to compile, in time, a complete record of the
condition and amenities, or lack of amenities, of every house in
the Borough. This has, of course, necessitated a considerable
amount of extra work, and has meant that the length of time
taken for each individual house-to-house inspection has increased,
so that a smaller number of such inspections will be done during
the year, and the interval elapsing between house-to-house
inspections of the same houses will be, consequently, increased.
At the present time, houses-to-house inspections of the same houses
are made at intervals of approximately 3½ years, and I am of the
opinion that this is rather a long period, and that such inspections
should be made at intervals of not longer than 3 years.
" (iv.) REVISITS AFTER THE SERVICE OF NOTICES —During this
year I have impressed upon the Inspectors the necessity of making
more frequent visits to see that the requirements of notices are
carried out, not only completely, but promptly, so that the
delay between the reception of a complaint or the observance of a
nuisance and its abatement shall be as short as possible. The
number of revisits in the first nine months of this year is nearly
3,000 more than the corresponding number for last year.
"(v.) OVERCROWDING —There are, at present, approximately
1,000 cases of overcrowding on the register kept by this Department.
New cases are added from time to time as they come to my
notice, and where a family is removed from overcrowded circumstances,
the case is transferred to the register of de-overcrowded
premises, but, hitherto, there has been no systematic visiting
of cases on the current register of overcrowding, and I am of
opinion that all premises on this register should be visited at least
twice a year.
" (vi.) DE-OVERCROWDING —A register is kept of all dwelling
houses where overcrowding has been abated by action of the
Borough Council, London County Council or by any other means,
and these premises are visited twice a year. The number of