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All property conversions involving basements are made
subject to the basement being made to comply with the Regulations.
Existing basement rooms are deemed to be unfit for habit—
ation unless they comply with the Regulations, which are as follows: -
"REGULATIONS prescribed by the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead for securing the proper
ventilation and lighting of rooms to which sub-section (2) of
Section 18 of the Housing Act, 195 7 applies, and the protection
thereof against dampness, effluvia or exhalation.
Every room, used or suitable for use for human habitation, the
surface of the floor of which is more than three feet below the
surface of the part of the street adjoining or nearest the room,
or more than three feet below the surface of any ground within
nine feet of the room, shall comply with the following regulations,
that is to say: -
Drainage
lo The subsoil of the site of the room shall be effectually
drained wherever the dampness of the site renders this
necessary.
2. No subsoil drain shall discharge into a soil drain
except through a suitable trap.
3. Every drain passing through the room, and every
drain or sewer passing under the room other than a sub—
soil drain, shall be gastight and watertight.
Floors
4. The floor of the room shall be of such material or
materials and construction as adequately to resist the passage
of moisture or exhalation from the ground.
Walls
5. The walls of the room shall either be of such material
and construction, or shall have been so treated, as adequately
to resist the passage of moisture to their inner surface, or to
any timber or other material forming part of the building that
would be harmfully affected by dampness.