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Mews dwellings have recently been improved considerably, and in those mewsways where
horses are not kept little fault can be found with them as single-family dwellings, with the exception
that difficulties often arise in connection with the storage of house refuse. The prohibition of keeping
fowls in mewsways, the thrice-weekly removal of manure and the more frequent removal of house
refuse, together with the daily sweeping of mewsway surfaces, have removed the chief Public
Health difficulties which existed in regard to mews dwellings in North Kensington. The mews
dwellings in South Kensington are generally quite satisfactory.
The houses of the cottage type, that is to say, with three or less bedrooms, are generally of
fairly recent construction and are usually satisfactory. They are, however, not numerous, totalling
not more than 866.
The working class tenements in block buildings are often used roughly; but being of much
more modern construction than the majority of houses let in lodgings and each tenement being
self-contained, there is not much difficulty in keeping them in a satisfactory condition, and they
may be generally regarded as providing suitable accommodation for the poorer members of the
community.
From time to time it happens that, owing to poverty, neglect or misuse, houses of all classes
fall into a serious state of disrepair and thus constant vigilance is required on the part of the Council's
Public Health staff, but the main problem in Kensington is the sanitary control of houses let in
lodgings. Owing to the fact that there is a common entrance and that the passages, staircases and
washing and lavatory accommodation are in common use, rough usage is frequently found. There
is often no one on the premises responsible for the cleansing of the passages, yards, lavatories, etc.,
and thus constant attention is required by the Sanitary Inspectors.
Inspections and re-inspections of registered houses let in lodgings in the Borough during the
past three years numbered 23,967 and during this period the main conditions calling for attention
have been inadequate W.C. accommodation, inadequate water-supply, dirty and verminous walls
and ceilings, absence of dust-bins, defective roofs and dampness in walls.
The extent to which these defects have been remedied is indicated under the next heading of
this Report, but it is desirable to mention here that in regard to each of the 3,614 houses let in
lodgings now on the Council's Register, there is more than one W.C. if there are more than twelve
persons in occupation and there is a water supply installed upstairs in addition to the one in
the basement. Every defective roof has been made sound. Practically every house has been
redecorated or the walls and ceilings have been thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom during the
past three years. Many houses have been cleansed on more than one occasion.
It is, of course, to be expected that this class of house falls into disrepair more rapidly than
others, for each room receives much more use than in a single-family house. It is usual in a house
let in lodgings to find a separate family on each floor and not uncommonly in each room.
It is the basement rooms in these houses where many difficulties arise and it is unfortunate
that owing to the present shortage of housing accommodation there is no alternative but to allow
the rooms to be occupied. If, however, these basement rooms do not comply with the regulations
laid down by the Council, steps are taken to secure the prohibition of their use for sleeping purposes
or to require the landlord to make them comply. A common defect is in regard to inadequate
window area. Fortunately the structure of most of the houses permits the window to be enlarged
sufficiently.
V.—STEPS TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN A HIGHER STANDARD OF
HABIT ABILITY OF HOUSES.
No subject has occupied more of the time and attention of the Public Health Committee
during the past three years than that of house repair and improvement of existing housing accommodation.
This difficult problem has also received a considerable amount ol attention by the
Council and by various organisations interested in the Borough.
It is well known that during the War and for some time after its termination, the cessation of
building operations by private individuals and the prohibitive cost of material and labour combined
to bring about a position, as regards the number of persons occupying tenement houses and the
state of repair in which these houses were kept, which the Council were practically powerless to
remedy substantially.
In the latter months of 1922 it was felt that the time had arrived when, in view of the reduction
in the cost of works of reparation, the Council might reasonably proceed to institute more
active measures, and they considered what further steps they could take to improve the standard of
housing conditions, particularly in regard to houses let in lodgiugs. A Sub-Committee of the
Public Health Committee was appointed and, as a result of their enquiries and deliberations, a
Special Council Meeting was called for January 11th, 1923. At this Meeting a series of resolutions,