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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 necessary 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 was 928, the number found not to
be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation being 753. The
number rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Sanitary
Inspectors was 587 and the number in respect of which statutory notices
were served requiring defects to be remedied was 166. No case came
to the knowledge of the Department in the course of the year of
underground rooms being illegally used for sleeping purposes. Appropriate
action is taken in any such 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.
By-laws relating to Houses and Houses Let in Lodgings.—
Existing by-laws relating to houses are, on the whole, found to be fairly
satisfactory in their working. The new by-laws under Section 6 of 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, 116 houses being inspected and recorded
by the Inspector.
Statements have continued to appear in the Press making allegations
as to the widespread existence of insanitary conditions and slum areas
in the borough. It is of great assistance to a Local Authority to have
an intelligent interest in sanitary matters taken by the inhabitants,
but the object is defeated when exaggerated statements are made. Some
of the statements appeared to be due to a misunderstanding of the facts
upon which the statements were based; others to conscious and deliberate
exaggeration.