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(iii) boarding schools, where a standard of one water closet
for every 5 pupils, as laid down in the Standards for School
Premises Regulations, 1959, should be borne in mind; and
(iv) future conversion to single room lettings, where 1 water
closet for every 4 lettings and not more than one floor distant
shall be required; and
(v) existing single room lettings where, if practicable, there must
be a provision of 1 water closet for every 4 lettings or for every
8 persons irrespective of age, the accommodation to be deemed
insufficient if it fails to conform to both of these requirements.
(f) Facilities for the storage and preparation and cooking of food and
for the disposal of waste water
The provision inside each separate dwelling (as distinct from a
staircase or landing in common use) of adequate facilities for
cooking food, and a food cupboard ventilated to the external air
and of dimensions not less than:—
One-room dwelling 3 cu. ft.
A two-room dwelling 4 cu. ft.
A three-room dwelling 6 cu. ft.
A dwelling comprising more than
3 rooms 8 cu. ft.
(These requirements relate to separate dwellings in family
occupation. In the case of bed-sitting rooms in use as bachelor
apartments, facilities for storing, preparing and cooking food are
normally not necessary, and in such circumstances these provisions
will not be required.)
(g) Installations for space heating or for the use of space heating appliances
In each dwelling there shall be provided an adequate number of
appliances for space heating and/or suitable points to which gas
or electric space heating appliances can be attached.
These standards may appear to be idealistic or ambitious, but it may
be pointed out that they are approaching the standards desired where
Discretionary or Standard Grants are given. It may well be that in some
instances they may be impracticable or even unenforceable in the Courts,
and where this proves to be the case, clearly some alternative will have to
be accepted. It must be remembered, however, that many of these premises
are now freed from rent control and that the substantial rents charged in
many cases merit the provision of adequate facilities which the increased
income could reasonably finance.
It is clear from both official memoranda and from Parliamentary debates
that it is the Government's intention that there should be flexibility in the
requirements of the Local Authority in regard to services and amenities
in multi-occupied houses. It is therefore suggested that any case where
special circumstances might justify a modification of the foregoing standards
should receive individual consideration by the Local Authority.