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This system has been in use to a certain extent for some years, so
far as clerical assistance would permit. It is on the model of that in
use in Paris which was begun in 1894 and recommended for adoption
by me in reports made in 1898 and 1900.
Underground Rooms.—Under the Public Health (London) Act,
Section 96, an underground room may not be used as a dwelling unless
it complies with certain requirements, but if used in conjunction with
another room in the same house which is not underground, it escapes
from the control of the section. It may, however, be dealt with under
the general nuisance sections of that Act. Section 17 of the Housing
and Town Planning Act prohibits any underground room being used
habitually as a sleeping place, unless it is seven feet high or complies
with regulations to be made by each local authority. This apparently
includes basement rooms used by servants in good class houses as well
as the kitchens of tenement dwellings. This particular part of the Act
did not come into force until the 1st July, 1910. Orders were made by
the Council requiring the closure of 11 underground rooms which were not
seven feet high in eleven houses. The Council has not made regulations
under this section, as it does not seem clear from the wording of the
section that it would be possible to enforce such regulations with regard
to rooms seven feet or over in height.
Back.to.baclc Houses.—Section 43 prohibits for the future the erection
of any back.to.back dwellings intended to be used as working class
dwellings. This also applies to a house containing several tenements,
in which the tenements are placed back to back, unless the Medical
Officer of Health certifies that they are so constructed and arranged as
to secure effective ventilation of all habitable rooms in every tenement
I have objected to one plan submitted for proposed dwellings under this
section.
Inhabited House Duty.—Section 35 exempts any house occupied for
the sole purpose of letting lodgings to persons of the working class, at a
charge of not exceeding sixpence a night for each person, if certified by the
Medical Officer of Health to be solely constructed and used to afford
suitable accommodation for the lodgers and due provision made for their
sanitary requirements. I have certified one house under this section
and have not certified two others (see below "Inhabited House Duty.")
Alteration of By.laws.—In view of the terms of the By.laws for
houses let in lodgings in force in the City, it was not deemed necessary
to make any alteration under the power given in this Act.
Displacement of Persons of the Working Class.—Eight premises in