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The principal causes of the deterioration of property are: —
neglect of necessary repairs ; overcrowding of part and/or whole
of houses, and the presence of dirt and vermin.
Local Authorities have considerable powers under the Public
Health and Housing Acts to enforce repairs and thus prevent
additional insanitary areas arising. During the year, 8,109 premises
were inspected for dwelling-house defects and other nuisances under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, including 1,112 house-to-house
inspections. It was found necessary during the year to
serve 4,200 Intimations requiring the remedying of insanitary
conditions, and 2,018 Intimations for other nuisances.
The problem of dealing with the overcrowding of rooms and
the occupation of houses suitable for one family but occupied by
several families will continue to remain unsolved until suitable
accommodation becomes available at rentals not beyond the means
of the poorest classes of the community.
The remedies for the prevention of dirt and vermin lie in the
hands of the occupiers, and it is regrettable to state that it is
necessary at times to take steps to compel tenants to abate these
domestic nuisances.
The Council is always willing to assist landlords and tenants
in the disinfestation of premises for vermin, especially bugs, and
during 1933, 576 rooms were cleansed by the Disinfesting Staff.
Houses Let in Lodĝinĝs.
The inspections recorded of these premises during the year
numbered 272, and 211 notices to remedy defects found were served.
In dealing with houses divided into separate tenements, the
practice in Camberwell has been to proceed under the provisions
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, rather than the Tenement
By-laws in view of the restrictive period for inspection, if proceedings
are to follow. This procedure has proved to be more
satisfactory in securing the carrying out of effective cleansing
work as well as the abatement of nuisances.
Overcrowding.
Reference has been made in previous Annual Reports to this
subject and to the causes responsible for overcrowding.
Large families accompanied by extreme poverty is unquestionably
the principal factor, although occasionally cases come to the
notice of the Public Health Department where failure to obtain
improved housing accommodation was not governed by inability
to pay for such accommodation.
In determining the existence of overcrowding in any dwelling
it is customary to apply the standard of free air space per person
similar to the requirements of the London County Council by-laws