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102
merits were used for dwelling purposes and on this the suggestion is made that
these basements are the only rooms occupied and that their occupation is
contrary to law.
In a number of instances the basements constitute the dwelling and their
use as such is legal as they comply with the requirements laid down by Acts
of Parliament and By-laws made thereunder. The other half are basements
which are used in conjunction with the rest of the house, most of them being
mansions in Mayfair, Belgravia and Kinghts???. As I have already stated
the number of basements found to be illegally used last year was seven."
The law relating to underground rooms has probably given The experts
who drafted it as much thought as any part of housing legislation. The
limitations of existing measures have already been alluded to, but it
may seem surprising that while in theory these measures do not seem to
go far enough it is actually found in practice that in some cases underground
rooms which do not comply with the law as regards window space
in relation to floor space and level of floor in relation to pavement, make
better dwellings from every point of view than many underground rooms
which fulfil all requirements.
Despite such exceptional conditions it ahold be commonly accepted
as a general principle that rooms, the ceiling of which is less than 3 feet
above the pavement level cannot, unless the area or yard adjoining
gives at least 6 feet of unobstructed space, measured right angles
from the window, be suitable as the sole dwelling of a family. Even then
there must be a provision for sufficiently large window space, and other
sanitary requirements relating to prevention of dampness, acccss to
natural light and air in the passages, &o, The time may come when on
considerations such as these, the prohibition of separate occupation and
the use for sleeping purposes, not only of an habitual charachter, will be
based. It would be of great advantage to local autherities in London
who administer the law relating to underground rooms if restrictive
provisions somewhat on the lines of those just outline were embodied in
the London Building Act. Owners and their are ??? and builders
would then be aware in advance of any restriction of user.
Policy re Underground Rooms.—For the past three years the policy
approved by the Council has been steadily pursued it was felt that in
view of the increasing opportunities for rehousing provided both by the
L.C.C. and the City Council the time had come when a more strict applieation
of the law should be enforced. It had been the custom for many
years to warn owners against reletting in illegal occupation, but in some
cases warnings had become disregarded, the invariable reason given for
such lapses being the scarcity of working class accommodation. The
present system described in last year's report of obtaining undertakings