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that improvements might be carried out in the houses vacated. At the
end of the year there were 716 inhabitants, of the following ages:—
Under 5 years, 69; between 5 and 20, 241; between 20 and 40, 208;
between 40 and 60, 158 ; over 60 years, 40.
Six houses in Shepherd's Place and one in Chadwick Street which
had been closed were put into habitable condition and re-occupied.
Under the auspices of the local branch of the Charity Organisation
Society, there has been formed the Pimlico and District. HouseManagement
Association. The general object of this body is to apply
the system of house-management, which was carried on so successfully
by Miss Octavia Hill, to those areas in the district where the need of
some reforming agency is apparent.
If owners of houses now let in tenements would provide each
tenement with suitable accommodation, proper cooking stoves, water
supply, sinks, and w.c., the standard of housing would be very materially
improved. In many of the large houses in Pimlico there is ample space
at the rear in which an addition could be built to provide these conveniences,
which would make the houses similar to those of the Peabody
Trust, which are so much sought after. H.M. the King has set an
example of what can be done in this way on the estate in London
belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall.
Houses Let in Lodgings.—The number of houses in 1913 was further
reduced through closure, and as none were added in that year, the number
on the register at the end of the year was 1,300; to this class of house
6,810 visits are recorded as having been paid. In addition to the
Inspectors' visits, a large number of these houses are visited by the
Health Visitors, who call attention to any insanitary conditions requiring
amendment. The disinfectors also visit a number in the course of the
year where children have been found to be suffering from vermin.
Overcrowding was found in 41 instances, and 1,171 other defects were
found and remedied. Particulars are included in the general list given
at the beginning of this part of the Report. Twenty-three statutory
notices had to be issued before defects were remedied, and in three
instances proceedings had to be taken in the Police Court (see above).
There were three infringements of the new By-law that persons of
different sex, above the age of 12 years, not being persons living
together as husband and wife, shall not occupy the same sleeping
apartment.
While much is being done to render houses habitable, it should be
recognised that many insanitary conditions which are found are not the
fault of the landlord, but arise from the careless and dirty habits of the
tenants. Additional powers are required by which such tenants could