View report page

55
At the request of the County Medical Officer a survey of the
Borough was therefore undertaken with the object of obtaining the
desired information for the Minister. The survey was carried out
by the district Sanitary Inspectors, and took nearly four months for
its completion. Careful measurements of the dimensions of each
room were taken together with the average width and extent of
the area, and also the necessary inspection made in each instance
to see whether the regulations were complied with. The survey
unfortunately coincided with the Measles epidemic, and the two
entailed a very considerable increase in the normal work of both
inspectors and clerical staff. It is therefore a matter of congratulation
that the survey was completed in so short a time, having
regard to all the circumstances.
The result of the survey is as follows :—
(i) Number of houses with underground rooms 6,712
(ii) Number of rooms which are unfit for human habitation
within the meaning of Section 18 of the
Housing Act, 1925 (i.e., not to be used for sleeping
purposes) 1,775
During the year 23 representations were made under section 20,
Housing Act, 1930, in connection with which 7 closing orders were
made and 4 undertakings were received in lieu of closing orders.
Of the remainder, five of the premises were found to be vacant
after the service of notices, so that the making of closing orders
could not be pursued.
The position with regard to closing underground rooms habitually
used for sleeping purposes is unsatisfactory. Owing to the legal
requirements and the time which must elapse between committee
and council meetings it is not ordinarily possible for a closing order
to be made within three months of the date of the representation.
In the meantime premises may become vacant or there may be a
change of ownership when the proceedings start again from the
beginning. When, however, it is reported that vacant basement
premises are "to let," the attention of the owner or agent is directed
to the provisions of Section 96, Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
when the premises, if relet, are let in such a way as to render it
unnecessary for any underground room to be used habitually for
sleeping purposes.
It is customary for the front and back basement rooms of a
house to be let to one family, but as the family use the conveniences
of the house in common with other tenants, the two basement
rooms do not constitute a separate tenement which can be made
the subject of a closing order under Section 20, Housing Act, 1930.
The procedure of closing the particular room habitually used for