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Houses Let in Lodgings.—The L.C.C. Bye-laws made under
Section 6 of the Housing Act 1936 define a house let in lodgings as
one which is occupied, or is of a type suitable for occupation, by
persons of the working classes and let in lodgings or occupied by
members of more than one family. These dwellings are subject to
registration and must comply with certain requirements as to
sanitation, cleanliness etc.
The number of houses on the Register at the end of the year
was 40; these have been visited by the woman Inspector on 33
occasions.
Defective Dwellings.—Repairs.—In view of the difficulties
met in dealing with houses found not to be in a reasonable
state of repair, it may be well to set out the procedure generally
adopted.
The subject comes under four headings:—
(1) Complaint from the occupier
(2) War damage
(3) Sanitary defects due to depreciation of property
(4) Housing defects which are of a nature and extent
which go beyond the scope of the Public Health Act.
(1) Complaint from or on behalf of the occupier.—The District
Sanitary Inspactor makes inspection and, where necessary, sends
an Intimation Notice to owner specifying general defects and nature
of nuisance found. Circumstances are reported to the Public Health
Committee for authority to serve Statutory Notice to enforce
abatement of nuisance. Premises are re-inspected by the Sanitary
Inspector and, if work required is not executed within a reasonable
period, Statutory Notice is then served on owner. Non-compliance
referred to Town Clerk to institute proceedings.
(2) War damage.—These cases come to the notice of the Department
in the following ways.
(a) Occupiers report direct to the Sanitary Inspectors'
office.
(b) Referred from Borough Engineer's Department. These
are generally confined to cases where war damage work
has been completed up to the permitted standard but
occupier states condition of premises is still insanitary.
In both instances, the Sanitary Inspector makes a re-inspection
and, if necessary, serves Notice on owner. Usually the question is