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60
accumulate to an extraordinary degree, rats find an attractive home. and
dampness becomes aggravated. Such a state of deterioration goes on that
the structure of the whole house is threatened and an atmosphere of
nuisance is created. If disused basement rooms are not sealed by having
doorways and windows bricked up then they had far better be occupied.
Used for purposes other than sleeping, say as kitchens or for having meals
in, and submitted regularly to broom and bucket these underground rooms
help to ventilate the whole house. During the year 32 cases of illegal
occupation of underground rooms were discovered; in 18 of these the
tenants obtained alternative accommodation, all except two being
rehoused in dwellings of the City Council or of the London County Council.
The cases which remain to be dealt with have been recommended for
preferential consideration when suitable accommodation becomes available.
Reoccupation of overcrowded or insanitary dwellings.
It has been the practice in this department for some years to
communicate with the owner of houses or rooms from which tenants
previously living in overcrowded or other insanitary conditions have moved
to other dwellings. It is pointed out to the owner that it is his duty to
see that in re-letting, such conditions do not recur. Re-inspections of
such houses have been made at regular intervals and only in two instances
was it found necessary to issue fresh notices. In one case accommodation
was found for a family illegally occupying two underground rooms. In
spite of warnings the owner re-let those rooms under the same conditions.
He was proceeded against and was convicted.
Collayc Place and Willow Place.—In October a request was made to the
Medical Officer of Health by the Westminster Housing Association and
four local government electors, that an inspection be made of the houses
in these two streets, in accordance with Sections 35 and 30 of the Housing
Act, 1925. It was suggested that the Medical Officer of Health might
make an official representation to the Council with a view to a small
Improvement Scheme being undertaken in connection with these properties.
A detailed inspection was accordingly made of the houses in question
and certain defects requiring remedy under the nuisance sections of the
Public Health Act were found to exist, but the general condition of the
premises was not such that they could be described as "unfit for habitation
"or" dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants" as
specified in Section 35 (a) and (b) of the Housing Act. A report in these
terms was subsequently made to the Council as required by Section 36
(2) of the Act.
Cottage Place, a cul-de-sac on the North side of Romney Street, consists
of 11 houses of the cottage type, varying in size from two to four rooms.