View report page

100
plaster, yard paving and fittings generally. These principles apply in a
somewhat modified manner to the reconditioning of whole houses ; the
enlargement of windows is often not necessary in upper rooms.
In Aylesford Street the owners adopted a scheme of general reconditioning
and in some respects replanning of the houses. The work was
well in hand at the end of the year. The results obtained in two houses,
completed by December, have proved eminently satisfactory. The
tenants were rehoused temporarily; the houses thoroughly disinfected ;
plasterwork stripped; floors repaired or relaid; additional windows
provided in the rear walls; additional rooms formed ; electric light
provided in the rooms, staircases and w.cs., and the premises converted
for use as separate flats with the provision of larders, coppers, baths,
w.cs. and sinks for the use of each family. The basements were reconditioned
on the lines already explained and will be occupied in conjunction
with rooms on the ground floors. In this instance the scheme
of reconditioning was, apart from the basements, entirely voluntary.
The houses were of rather low grade tenement type, the internal planning
narrow and inconvenient and the fittings somewhat unsubstantial.
Only owners unhampered by lack of capital could embark on a scheme
so radical in character and in houses so unpromising.
The provisions of the bye-laws relating to houses divided into separate
tenements are taken as guiding principles as to the provision of amenities
when considering specifications both with regard to basements and
complete houses.
Closing orders to the number of 200 were made prohibiting the use of
parts of buildings for human habitation and, in 24 instances, statutory
undertakings by the owners were accepted, to the effect that the rooms
would not be used for habitable purposes unless and until rendered fit to
the satisfaction of the Council. Of these closing orders and undertakings,
221 related to basements and 3 to other parts of houses, comprising 567
rooms.
In 70 other cases the necessary statutory procedure for closure of
basements was in process at the end of the year, so that formal action has
been applied to 291 basements. In addition to those parts of buildings
dealt with statutorily, 137 basements were voluntarily closed for habitation
or reconditioned as a result of informal action, bringing the total of
the basements dealt with up to 428 during the year.
Only in one instance was it found necessary to take legal proceedings
in respect of the contravention of a closing order.