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36
HOUSING.
The case stated by the Minister of Health after the inquiry held in December, 1922, had not been
heard at the end of the year.
Houses Unfit for Habitation.—No representations were made to the Council under Section 17
of the Act of 1909 during the year, but that cannot be taken to imply that there were no houses which
ought not to have been represented. The reasons for not taking action in this direction have been
sufficiently stated in the preceding paragraphs.
Underground Rooms.—One Order was made during the year under Section 17 of the Act of 1909
with reference to an underground room used as a sleeping place in contravention of the Regulations
made by the Council under Sub-section 7 of that Section. The beds were removed from the room.
One basement was dealt with under Section 96 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, as being
totally unfit for habitation. Its use as such was given up before the end of the year.
Tenement Houses.—Section 26 of the Housing Act, 1919, authorises the County Council to
frame bye-laws for the registration and supervision of houses let in lodgings or occupied by members
of more than one family ("Tenement Houses"). Bye-laws were drafted by that Council in 1920, and
submitted to the Borough Council for their comments. The draft was later on submitted to the
Minister of Health for confirmation, but so far such confirmation has not been given. When the byelaws
under Section 26 are made and confirmed, the bye-laws made by the Borough Council will be
repealed. The latter bye-laws can only be described as out of date, and it is much to be hoped that
the new series under Section 26 will be issued without further delay. They are much needed.
Pending the issue of the bye-laws referred to above, no steps have been taken to add any houses to
the Register, which contains some 1,400 houses. The inspections of those houses during the year
numbered 6,220, including those in connection with the Annual Cleansing, the value of which it would
be difficult to over-estimate. The defects, nuisances and infringements of the bye-laws dealt with are
set out in Table 19. It will be noticed that the number of dirty rooms increased from 1,638 in 1922 to
3,202 last year, and that the number of "Other defects or nuisances" increased from 1,531 to 2,494.
The increase under the latter head is due to the practice, initiated in 1922, of sending letters to landlords
after the inspections for the Annual Cleansing directing their attention to defects which cannot be
dealt with under the bye-laws or under the Public Health Act.
Overcrowding.—For reasons already explained, action is rarely taken with reference to overcrowding
unless very much aggravated. Last year only 4 tenements were so reported.
Annual Cleansing.—The selection of streets for special inspection in connection with this work
was continued last year. Such selection is probably the explanation of the increase in the number of
rooms reported to be dirty. Last year 793 out of the 1,400 houses were specially inspected. The
delays made in complying with the Notices under the Bye-laws involve a reduction in the number of
houses inspected, to which work two Inspectors give their whole time.
Common Lodging Houses.—There are 5 houses in Kilburn Lane accommodating 128 men and
37 women. These houses are inspected once a year by the Department on receipt of the Notices of
Intention to Apply for Licences. Routine inspection is carried out by the officers of the County
Council.
No case of infectious disease was reported among the occupants of these houses during the year,
and only 2 deaths (one each from influenza and cancer).
Inland Revenue Act, 1903.—Applications for Certificates necessary for exemption from, or
reduction of, the Inhabited House Duty, were received (and granted after inspection by the Medical
Officer of Health) with respect to 54 flats in Clive Court, Maida Vale, and 3 at No. 166, Portnall Road.
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1920-23.—Twenty-eight (28)
applications were received during the year as compared with 33 in 1922. Certificates were issued with
respect to 23 of the premises, after inspection by the Medical Officer of Health, 2 were refused, and 3
were held over. One certificate was issued under Section 5 (2) of the Act of 1923 after the work called
for in the original certificate had been carried out.
The Act of 1923 has made the issue of certificates somewhat laborious in that the works to be
executed have to be set out in detail in addition to the statement of the defects rendering the premises
otherwise than in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation.
L.C.C. Houses.—Appeals for help to obtain accommodation in houses erected by the County
Council continue to be received. In 7 instances communications in support of applications were
addressed to the Housing Department of the Council. In 2 instances the Housing Department refused
the original application, in 2 others the accommodation offered was refused by the applicants, and in
the remaining 3 the applications were abandoned. Perhaps more success may be expected as the
County Council has resumed building, although the principal building site is very inconveniently
situated with reference to the Borough.