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1913] 242
INSPECTION OF HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
There are houses in every town which frequently change their tenants.
They are mostly inhabited by the working classes, are usually occupied by
two or more families, and are let at smaller rents than similar accommodation
would command in better class houses and districts. The leases of many of
these houses in Islington are approaching their expiration, when they will
revert to the ground landlords; and consequently such houses are neglected by
their owners, and frequently are badly used by the tenants, who sometimes are not
very particular as to the damage they do to their homes. Therefore they require
constant supervision, which work is undertaken by two specially appointed
inspectors, and during the year devolved on Inspectors Hancock and WatsonThe
latter, however, only acted until July 17th, when he was relieved at his
own request by Inspector Marks, who had been appointed to fill a vacancy on
the inspectorial staff.
During the year, 1,848 houses were inspected, to which 10,312 visits were
subsequently made, so that the total visits to them numbered 12,160.
These inspections entailed the service of 1,325 notices, and 195 statutory
notices to obtain the abatement of the 6,283 sanitary defects or nuisances which
were discovered and which are set out below.
Synopsis of Inspectors' Work.—In abating the nuisances the following
work became necessary:—
Drains constructed 2
„ reconstructed 18
„ repaired 74
„ traps supplied to 104
W.C.'s, extra provided 11
„ pan and trap only provided 35
„ water supply provided 138
Dustbins provided 160
„ repaired 17
Yards paved or re-paved 78
Water supply—cisterns (new) provided 7
„ cisterns, repaired and cleansed 40
Water supply provided 149
Rooms cleansed and limewashed 2463
Walls and passages repaired, cleansed or limewashed 1568
Floor space ventilated 21
Floors repaired 95
Overcrowding abated 98
Verminous rooms disinfected, etc. 48
Roofs repaired 159
Other improvements or nuisances abated 998