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46
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
During the year under review 221 observations were made by the
several Inspectors, 5 nuisances were observed, and 1 intimation notice
served.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
These houses are inspected by the District Sanitary Inspectors during
their routine house-to-house inspection and on complaint, but any
exceptionally dirty houses are inspected more frequently.
Last year I reported on the difficulty of administering the Bye-laws
due to the control or partial control of such houses under the Rent
Restrictions Acts and the constant change in the method of sub-letting.
The Local Authority have no control over sub-letting except in
those tenements where overcrowding exists, and the owner appears to
have no control except where premises are let under an agreement. The
latter proves to be an exception rather than a rule in this district.
In a large number of these houses there are many rooms let as
tenements which should only be used as bedrooms. It appears that if the
Gas Company will fix a gas cooker in a room or on the landing outside,
and the owner fixes a water supply on the staircase, then the room is
called a "tenement." This is a very unsatisfactory arrangement, as
there is often no room to fix a ventilated food store or to provide watercloset
and washing accommodation for the family occupying such a
tenement.
Many houses containing six to eight rooms which were originally
built for one family are now occupied under the conditions stated by
two, three and sometimes more families. Such houses are only fit for
two families and would make two excellent flats with the necessary
amenities for each family on their respective storeys. To put three or
four water-closets food cupboards and washing accommodation into this
type of house is a practical impossibility. Before improvements can be
carried out the problem is to re-house the surplus families.