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95
passed since privies gave place to modern W.C.s. The structures are
aged and decaying and while frequent repairs try to keep pace with
defects, maintenance must be relatively costly. In a changing world
should they remain as a hostage to the days that are past ? Must seclusion
and quiet be paid for by damp and ageing structures? Life in modern
flat dwellings cannot give that repose but it can offer other conditions
more conducive to health.
Block Dwellings.
There are nearly 8,000 of these dwellings in the City including 1,316
belonging to or under the direct control of the City Council.
With very little exception this type of property is well managed and
maintained, and, apart from some overcrowding, gives little concern to
the Public Health Department.
Basements.
Basement occupation exists only in two types of dwellings :
(a) Houses let in tenements,
and, to a lesser degree,
(b) Tenements combined with business premises.
At the time of the housing survey the provisions of the City Council's
Regulations as to underground rooms applied only to rooms habitually
used for sleeping purposes; but the Housing Act of 1935, which became law
in August, 1935, immediately following the completion of the survey,
altered the position. Under this Act any underground room which does
not comply with the Regulations is to be deemed to be unfit for human
habitation, and thus the question as to whether such room is used
habitually as a sleeping place no longer arises.
Of the total number of premises inspected during the survey 5,301 were
basement houses, and of this number 1,257 basements were found to be used
for business purposes, stores, etc.: 755 complied with, and 3,289 contravened
to a greater or lesser extent the provisions of the City Council's
Regulations as extended by the provisions of the Housing Act 1935. In
approximately one-half of the number the basement rooms were occupied
as living rooms, kitchens, etc., in conjunction with other rooms in the
house.
Defects in Basements.
During the course of the survey dampness was found to be the
predominating cause of complaint in occupied basements.