View report page

88
control of underground rooms be communicated with when such rooms
were illegal for separate occupation as dwellings under the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, or where rooms do not comply with the City Council's
regulations as to underground rooms used for sleeping purposes.
The Medical Officer of Health has accordingly caused owners and
others subletting to be written to when illegal rooms became vacant,
warning them that action will be taken if letting or occupation takes
place contrary to the Act and regulations. Where rooms are at present
illegally occupied owners and others are warned not to relet or occupy
illegally after the present illegal conditions cease. Many of these cases
are not so serious as to call for immediate action, being occupied by single
people who are away during the day time, but steps are being taken to
prevent illegal occupation in the future, and the worst cases are being
rehoused by the City Council or recommended to the London County
Council for rehousing as opportunities occur.
Another class of underground rooms being dealt with are those which
are illegal for separate occupation as dwellings, or contrary to the regulations
for sleeping purposes, but are not so occupied. These rooms are
suitable for occupation as living rooms when used in connection with
rooms on the floors above, and the owners are communicated with and
informed that they are contrary to the provisions of the Public Health
or Housing Acts.
During the year written undertakings were given under the Housing
Act, 1930, sec. 19, by owners and also in many cases by tenants subletting,
that rooms in the basements which were contrary to the Act
would not be relet or used as sleeping places in respect of 91 houses.
The number of inspections, of communications to owners and tenants
who sub-let, and the recording and reinspections, entail a considerable
amount of work, which necessarily progresses somewhat slowly, and it
will take a considerable time before the occupation of underground rooms
is completely brought under regular control.
Several owners have expressed approval of the action taken by the
Council prohibiting sleeping in basements. At three houses underground
rooms have been improved and made to comply with legal requirements.
In a few cases extra rooms have been taken in basements, as a temporary
measure, to abate overcrowding.
Five notices were served re illegal occupation. The number of
underground dwellings recorded as illegally occupied under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, sec. 96, at the end of 1932, was 70, while
underground sleeping rooms occupied contrary to the City Council's
regulations numbered 81.