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Infringements of the Bye-laws were reported in 4 instances, in
respect of failure to give notice of intention to construct drainage or
to deposit plans. The Builders concerned were cautioned and no
further action yvas considered necessary.
Public Sanitary Conveniences.—Conveniences provided or
maintained by the Council remain as enumerated in last year's Report
as also the Drinking Fountains and Horse Troughs which are cleansed
daily by the attendants attached to the Department.
Houses Let in Lodgings.—Under Section 6 of the Housing
Act, 1925, the London County Council made Bye-laws which came
into force in 1926. These Bye-laws define a house let in Lodgings as
ordinary tenement houses in which the rooms or floors are let out
separately, and all houses suitable to the working classes and occupied
by members of more than one family are subject to registration, and in
them there must be compliance with certain requirements as to
Sanitation, cleanliness, etc. If this definition were strictly followed,
it would include approximately half the houses in the Borough
because, partly owing to housing shortage two or more families to a
house is the rule rather than the exception. Many of these houses
are well looked after by owners and tenants and do not require the
drastic application of the Bye-laws and the practice at present is to
place on the register only those which experience has shown require
the constant supervision of the Inspector, and the progress of our
slum clearance scheme will tend to reduce this number. The number
of houses on the register is at present 102 and 106 visits were paid for
inspection purposes. In no case was it necessary to institute legal
proceedings.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.—During the year
114 complaints of the presence of rats in houses, etc., were received.
These complaints were at once investigated for the purpose of discovering the source of the Rats, and advice and assistance were given
where necessary. In the case where defective drains were found steps
were taken to have these remedied.
The usual procedure was adopted with regard to Rat Week,
particulars of which have been dealt with in previous Reports, and as
usual supplies of approved Rat Poison were supplied to necessitous
tenants.
Public Swimming Baths.—The Public Swimming Baths in
Greenwich are provided with aeration and filtration plant whereby
water is continuously filtered, aerated and chlorinated.