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These dwellings are situated over what were originally stables but which are now, in most
cases, garages, workshops or stores for costermongers' barrows, merchandise, etc.
In South Kensington, mews dwellings have practically ceased to present any real difficulty
from the Public Health point of view. Horses have been displaced by motor-cars, with the result
that there is no storage of manure and the conditions generally are much more satisfactory. The
tenants are for the most part chauffeurs in good employment, who keep their homes in a cleanly
condition. A number of South Kensington mews dwellings, together with the stable accommodation
on the ground floor, have been converted into small houses and are let at good rents to
families of the professional and semi-professional classes.
The condition of the North Kensington mews dwellings has materially improved during the
past five years. Motor-cars have taken the place of horses, but not so extensively as in South
Kensington. In certain of the mewsways occupied by the poorest classes the stable accommodation
is used for storage purposes by costermongers, and difficulties arise owing to the careless manner
in which these street traders dispose of their unsound food-stuffs. The activities of the Council
in regard to the improvement of mews dwellings generally,referred to in another part of this Report,
and two recent prosecutions in regard to the storage of food-stuffs in unsatisfactory mews stables
will do much to secure better conditions in North Kensington mewsways.
HOUSES LET IN LODGING OR TENEMENT HOUSES.
There are in the Borough to-day approximately 5,690 houses let in lodgings and occupied by
the working classes without having been specially adapted for the purpose. Except for the fact
that these houses have in the majority of cases no bathroom, they may be regarded as providing
satisfactory accommodation as single-family houses. They are large, with a basement, ground
floor, first floor, second floor, and sometimes a third floor and fourth floor. There are two rooms
on each floor and generally a slip room on one or two floors. With the exception of the slip rooms,
the rooms are of good dimensions. The houses are satisfactory from the point of view of structural
and architectural planning. Difficulties arise owing to these houses, which were originally intended
for one family, having been let to three, four, five or six families.
At the commencement of 1923, the number of houses let in lodgings on the Council's Register
was 2,169. Since that date two temporary Sanitary Inspectors have been engaged in measuring
up unregistered " tenement " houses with a view to their registration and at the present time there
are 3,614 houses on the Register.
It is probable that the population living in houses let in lodgings in the Borough is not less than
55,000.
In addition to the ordinary powers which apply in the case of all houses whether registered or
not, the Council have for many years had the following powers with regard to " tenement " houses
which have been placed on their Register :—
(1) They can require that every occupant in a room used exclusively for sleeping purposes
shall have 300 cubic feet of air space, and in a room used for both sleeping and living
purposes 400 cubic feet. In the case of a child under ten years the figures are 150
and 200 cubic feet respectively.
(2) They can prevent indecent occupation.
(3) They have special powers with regard to cleanliness and ventilation.
(4) They can enforce an annual cleansing and lime-washing of the houses even though
a nuisance cannot be proved.
On March 5th, 1926, a new series of by-laws for houses let in lodgings came into operation, and
on this date those which had been in force for many years past were rescinded. The new by-laws
are a distinct advance on the old code and will be of considerable value to the Council in securing
even better results than those noted in recent years. The clauses of the new by-laws under which
the Council can require considerable structural alterations so as to provide more satisfactory lavatory
and washing accommodation and accommodation for the storage, preparation and cooking of food,
do not come into operation until six months after the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions)
Acts and continuing enactments thereof cease to be in force.