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69
It will be seen that there are only three common lodging houses for men in the Borough, one
of these being in the Golborne Ward and the other two in the Notting Dale district of the Norland
Ward.
Of the 5 common lodging houses for women, one is situated in Sirdar Road, one in Bangor
Street and three in Crescent Street. Curiously enough, these houses are within a stone's throw
of one another and are located in the Notting Dale area of the Norland Ward.
In each of three of these institutions for women, two adjoining dwellings have been converted
into a common lodging house, and in each of the other two, one dwelling is being used for the
purpose. The total number of ordinary dwelling houses taken up by these five common lodging
houses is eight. The houses are the ordinary basement type commonly found in that district, and
were originally built as single family houses; they are ill-adapted for their present use, and they
make probably the poorest kind of common lodging house in London. Perhaps the worst feature
is the fact that the basement is used as a common kitchen in three cases.
Apart from common lodging houses maintained by the Church Army and other philanthropic
bodies, the women's common lodging houses in Kensington are the cheapest in London—the charge
per woman per night, for bed and the use of the kitchen and cooking utensils being 8d. It will be
seen that they provide accommodation for the poorest of those unfortunate creatures who have
drifted to a common lodging house life.
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the presence of these women, who, for the most
part come from the lowest ranks of society, must necessarily constitute an effective bar to the
progress of social reform in the neighbourhood where the common lodging houses are situated.
The inspection of common lodging houses is carried out by the inspectors of the London
County Council, who exercise effective control under a system of annual licensing. If a house is
not kept in conformity with the by-laws, the renewal of the license can be refused, and in this
way the necessity for resorting to the cumbersome procedure of prosecution for each offence as it
arises is avoided. The adoption of a similar system of annual licensing would materially strengthen
the hands of the Sanitary Inspectors in dealing with the houses let in furnished rooms, and
special powers for the control of such houses are needed.
Dr. Barnardo's Home for Women at No. 12, Penzance Place was discontinued as a common
lodging house in August, 1923, and is now used as a workplace by the Church Army under the title
of "Disabled Ex-service Men's Industries."
This Home did not come within the strict definition of a common lodging house, inasmuch as
lodgers therein were not asked for payment, but Dr. Barnardo's Association voluntarily submitted
an application for a license each year.
On the instructions of the Public Health Committee, I made an inspection of the Women's
Common Lodging Houses in Kensington in December, 1922, and after receiving rny report, the
Council directed me to appear before the County Council at the annual Licensing Meeting
in June to oppose the re-licensing of the Common Lodging House situated at Nos. 34, and
36, Sirdar Road. Certain alterations had been effected subsequent to my inspection and, on
Counsel for the owner of the Common Lodging House promising other improvements, the County
Council renewed the license conditionally on these being carried out.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
It is beyond dispute that one of the most difficult housing problems in Kensington is the
sanitary control of houses let in lodgings.
There are in the Borough to-day over 5,000 houses let in lodgings and occupied by the
working classes without having been specially adapted for the purpose. These houses are not
small, usually they have eight or nine large living rooms and, in addition to the basement, there are
a ground floor, first floor and second floor, with perhaps only one W.C., and one water tap, both in
the basement; and as there are no sinks upstairs, in addition to the carrying of clean water up,
dirty water has to be carried down.
These houses were originally intended for one family, but it is not uncommon now to find them
occupied by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or perhaps even 7 families.
it is impossible to estimate the population living in these tenement houses, but, at a low
estimate, it is certainly not less than 55,000.
Conditions arising from the War, including the high cost of repairs and labour, nave resulted
in considerable deterioration of this class of property and the question of control becomes one of
great importance. Further, the houses let in lodgings problem in Kensington is one which will
probably grow in magnitude because the Borough contains a large number of single family houses
for which there is every year less demand owing to domestic and other economic difficulties.
In some parts of the Borough, these large houses are being converted into high-class flats and
maisonettes, but in those parts bordering on the tenement house district, there is a tendency for
houses vacated by single families to be let off in lodgings to several families, without being specially
adapted for the purpose.
The Council have certain powers under various Acts of Parliament and they also have by-laws,
but these are not sufficient for their purpose and Parliament has recognised this in the Housing
Act of 1919. Section 26 of this Act provides that by-laws for this class of property shall be made
by the London County Council and that such by-laws so made shall be observed and enforced
by each Metropolitan Borough Council. In order to impress upon the County Council the urgent