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relating to houses divided into Separate Tenements, viz., in the
case of decontrolled houses 400 cubic feet per person of ten years
or over, 300 cubic feet per person under ten years, in any room
wholly or partly used as a sleeping apartment, and in the case of
dwelling houses to which the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction)
Act, 1920, applies, any room exclusively used as a sleeping
apartment not less than 300 cubic feet of free air space for each
person of ten years of age or over, and 150 cubic feet for each
child under ten years.
The by-laws require that in respect of a child under ten years
of age occupying a room not exclusively used as a sleeping apartment
not less than 200 cubic feet shall be available.
There were 103 cases of overcrowding brought to the notice
of the Public Health Department in 1933, and an intimation
notice to abate the nuisance was served in every case, in two
instances a statutory notice was served, and in one case the issue
of a summons was authorised.
During the year under review the London County Council
provided accommodation for 27 families living in overcrowded
conditions, and in 16 cases the nuisance was abated by the families
themselves.
Underground Rooms.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 96,
requires that underground rooms shall not be occupied as separate
dwellings unless they comply with certain structural standards. If,
however, the occupier has a room on an upper floor no action can
be taken under this Act.
Under the powers granted by Section 18 of the Housing Act,
surface of the floor of which is more than 3 feet below the surface
of the part of the street adjoining or nearest to the room, or more
than 3 feet below the surface of any ground within 9 feet of the
floor to ceiling, or does not comply with such regulations as the
Local Authority with the consent of the Minister of Health may
provide for securing proper ventilation and lighting of such rooms,
and protection against dampness, etc., shall be deemed to be a
house so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human
habitation.
During the year action was taken in respect of underground
rooms which did not comply with the provisions of the Acts, and in
four instances the illegal occupation was discontinued. Action
was pending at December 31st 1933, in respect of a front basement
room in the northern part of the Borough which by virtue of Section
18 of the Housing Act, 1925, was deemed to be unfit for
human habitation.