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39
lengthened period. No solution of the problem presented by these
people seems possible, apart from the granting of compulsory powers
for their removal to a suitable institution.
While in the majority of cases the defects found to exist in unfit
houses are due to the lack of proper management and supervision by
owners, from time to time complaints are made by owners regarding the
difficulties they experience in keeping their property in a reasonable
state of repair because of the dirty and destructive habits of a number
of their tenants. It is alleged that, through carelessness or wilful damage
by tenants, repairs and cleansing have to be carried out with unreasonable
frequency and that, as a consequence, it is impossible to maintain even
the minimum requirements of the Local Authority without incurring
financial loss.
Investigation has shown that these statements are often well-founded,
especially in the poorer class tenement lodging houses where no responsible
caretaker or landlord is resident. To lighten the difficulties of the owner in
these cases, effort is made, as far as possible, to keep in view such powers
as a Local Authority has of holding the tenant responsible for defects
resulting from his neglect or default.
No action was taken during the year in respect of dwelling houses
found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit
for human habitation. The total number of dwelling houses inspected
for housing defects during the year was 1,079, the number found not to
be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation being 886. The
number rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Sanitary
Inspectors was 670 and the number in respect of which statutory notices
were served requiring defects to be remedied was 216. It came to the
knowledge of the Department in the course of the year that two underground
rooms were being illegally used for sleeping purposes. Appropriate
action was taken in each case.
There were no applications under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage
Interest (Restriction) Acts made by occupiers of dwelling houses,
that houses occupied by them were not in a reasonable state of repair.
It is the usual practice when such an application is received to inspect the
house and serve notices for the defects which exist. If these are amended
promptly it is found unnecessary to take further action.
Unhealthy Areas. No representation was made under the Housing
Act during the year. No complaints that areas were unhealthy have been
received.
Byelaws relating to Houses and Houses Let in Lodgings. Existing
byelaws relating to houses are, on the whole, found to be fairly satisfactory
in their working. The new byelaws under Section 6of the 1925
Housing Act, issued by the London County Council, will be of immense
assistance in dealing adequately with present-day housing conditions
when they become fully operative.
Housing Survey. House-to-house inspection was carried out during the
year, as provided by statute, 187 houses being inspected and recorded
by the Inspector.