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43
(iv) That the standard embodied in the London Building Act be adopted as regards windows
in habitable rooms with such modification as may be necessary as regards the height of the top
of the window in rooms having an external wall and in which a height of 7 ft. 6 ins. will not be
exceeded.
(v) That every habitable room shall have means of permanent ventilation with an unobstructed
sectional area of 30 square inches.
(vi) That staircases shall be required to be safe as regards inclination and structure and be
provided with a handrail; and that a window or skylight opening shall be provided, opening
directly into the external air.
(vii) All partition walls of badly arranged rooms shall be reconstructed where practicable in
order to provide properly lighted and ventilated passageways.
(viii) That the following shall also be required:—
(а) Provision of a copper and means of heating.
(б) A food cupboard ventilated to the external air and fly-proof.
(c) A sink with a gas cooker or kitchen range for the preparation and cooking of food.
(d) A water supply in the dwelling-house and over the sink.
(e) That the requirements of the bye-laws applicable to newly constructed water-
closets shall be enforced so far as is practicable.
At the close of the year the survey of the Mews Areas was still proceeding.
Improvement Areas.—In 1933 the London County Council declared fifty houses in Clarendon
Street to be an improvement area. Following the closure of basement rooms and the abatement of
overcrowding in the area, notices were served requiring the owners of the houses to carry out reconditioning
work. A summary of the works executed during 1935 is given below:—
Rooms cleansed and redecorated 150
Staircases and passages redecorated 39
Verminous rooms fumigated and redecorated 58
Floors repaired 68
Walls repaired (internal) 48
Walls repaired (external) 65
Windows repaired 290
Firegrates repaired 40
Ranges repaired 46
Staircases repaired 35
Hearths repaired 61
Doors and locks repaired (to rooms) 124
Vault doors repaired 37
Cupboards repaired and cleansed 132
Steps repaired 18
Ceilings repaired 21
Roofs repaired 30
Coppers repaired 30
Yards and areas cleansed 65
Rainwater pipes and gutters repaired 12
Chimney pieces repaired 66
Windows made to open 8
Drain fresh-air-inlets repaired 20
Water-closets provided 42
Water-closets repaired 43
Water-closets ventilated 12
Sinks and taps provided 113
Sinks repaired 20
New soil pipes 34
New waste pipes and stacks 140
With the exception of certain items of repair, etc. at Nos. 26, 39 and 45, Clarendon Street,
the whole of the re-conditioning works in the area has now been completed, and the houses, as
re-conditioned, should provide for a considerable number of years fairly satisfactory accommodation
for the number of families allowed to occupy them.
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation.—The following figures show the extent of the Council's
operations during 1935:—
Number of basement rooms closed for human habitation 46
Number of basement rooms closed for sleeping purposes only 158
Number of dwelling-houses or parts of dwelling-houses closed for human habitation
(other than basement rooms) 12
Number of persons displaced or who will be displaced as a result of the Council s
operations 542
Number of displaced persons rehoused on London County Council Housing Estates 291
A number of displaced persons have found accommodation through their own efforts,
while others are awaiting suitable vacancies on London County Council Estates.