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54
Lighting of Staircases or Tenement Buildings,
Tte above provision is required by Section 61 of the London County Council (Gcncral
Powers) Act, 1927, which came into force on August 1st, 1928.
An inspection was made of all tenement buildings, and in a number of cases either the
natural lighting by day or the artificial lighting by night was found to be unsatisfactory.
Communications were sent to the owners, and the necessary work has been carried out
in all cases.
Handrails for Staircases in Model Dwellings.
In consequence of inspections it was found that in the case of a certain block of
dwellings in the Borough there were short flights of steps without handrails. The attention
of the owner was called to the matter, and instructions wore at once given for the fixing of the
necessary handrails.
Underground Rooms (Housing Act, 1925, Section 18 (1) ).
Inconsequence of the shortage of housing accommodation, it was considered inadvisable
to take action in connection with The above except in serious cases of overcrowding in rooms
which were very bad structurally. Closing Orders were made by the Council in the following
cases, either prohibiting the use of the rooms entirely, or prohibiting their use for sleeping
purposes:—
30, Chalk Farm Road (2 rooms).
31, Maiden Road (2 rooms).
A closing order was also made on the entire premises, 19 Leighton Road, consisting
of seven rooms on three floors, under Section 11 of the Housing Act, 1925. See also page 58.
Canal Boats Acts.
Under the Canal Boats (Amendment) Regulations, 1925, the responsibility for maintaining
a canal boat in a habitable condition is now placed upon the owner, instead of the
master.
During the year Inspector Auger examined 4 canal boats, which were registered
for the occupation of 7 adults and 1 child, and were actually occupied by 4 adults and 2
children.
A weekly inspection of the canal and wharves has also been made.
RENT AND MORTGAGE INTEREST RESTRICTIONS ACT, 1923.
During the year 38 applications were received from tenants for certificates under
this Act, and in 35 cases certificates were granted, specifying the work required to bo
executed to put the houses into a good and tenantable state of repair.
In accordance with Section 5 of the Act, 18 applications were made by landlords for
the "release" of certificates previously granted to their tenants, the necessary work to the
premises having been carried out. In 17 cases the "release" certificate was granted.
The nature of the work specified on the certificates embraced such items as repairing,
cleansing, and decorating the walls and ceilings, and, in addition, many items not ordinarily
dealt with by the sanitary inspectors, e.g., repair of chimney flues, stoves, mantel boards, staircase
rails and balusters, door furniture, window fasteners, floor boards, cupboard doors, etc.
In the majority of cases where an examination of premises for the purpose of issuing a
certificate under the Act was made by an inspector, opportunity was also taken of serving,
where applicable, Intimation Notices on the owners for the abatement of nuisances or for
remedying breaches under the Public Health (London) Act, the London County Council
(General Powers) Acts, By-laws, etc.