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68
APPENDIX D
HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954
allow the Borough Council to serve notices (a) requiring adequate
provision of various amenities and facilities in houses let in lodgings or
occupied by members of more than one family and (b) specifying in
relation to any room on the premises the maximum number of persons
by whom it is suitable to be occupied for sleeping purposes. The person
in control of the house must, on receipt of a notice, and if he is unable
to carry out the works required, take such steps as are reasonably open
to him (including if necessary the taking of legal proceedings) for
securing a reduction in the number of persons or households
accommodated.
To help owners and agents the Committee adopted certain
standards which can be used as guides, though it is stressed that each
house coming into review is treated entirely on its individual merits.
Nevertheless it was thought that these guides might be of great use to
agents and owners. They are as under.
STANDARDS
(1) Natural lighting
(a) Provision and maintenance in every habitable room of a
window or windows opening directly to the external air and
having a glass area equal to one-tenth of the floor area and an
openable area equal to one-twentieth of the floor area.
(b) Provision and maintenance, wherever practicable, of adequate
means of natural light to a common staircase.
(2) Ventilation
Provision and maintenance of adequate means of ventilation
for every passage, room, water closet apartment and staircase.
(3) Water supply
(a) Provision of one tap per floor and if more than one letting
one tap per letting, from the rising main if practicable. In
addition, provision of a sink of suitable size and pattern and
efficient means for the carrying off of any waste water from
the tap.
(b) Provision in every hostel, boarding house, guest house, and
boarding school of a water supply reasonably accessible to the
occupants of each sleeping room.