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33
Houses Let in Lodgings.
Bye-laws dealing with these houses, made under power given by Section 6 of the
Housing Act, 1925, came into force on March 5th, 1926. On the 8th June, 1931, the Minister
of Health allowed the application to decontrolled houses of certain of the bye-laws which had
been held in abeyance. Particulars concerning the inspections made will be found in the
Table on page 28. There are some 5,166 houses on the register.
New bye-laws under Section 6 of the Housing Act, 1936, were continued by the
Minister of Health on the 13th December, 1938, and are to come into operation on the 1st
January, 1939.
Lighting of Staircases of Tenement Buildings.
Adequate means for the artificial lighting of every common staircase is required in
accordance with the L.C.C. Bye-laws as to Lodging houses for the working classes. These
Bye-laws are made under Section 6 of the Housing Act, 1936.
The following bye-law shall not come into operation until six months after the Rent
& Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1920 to 1935, or any re-enactment thereof with or
without modifications relating to dwelling houses, shall have ceased to be in force :—
" Wherever practicable provide every common staircase in the lodging house with
adequate means of lighting by natural light, including in the case of a new building constructed
for use as a lodging house, a window or windows with a total superficies clear of the
sash frames of not less than four square feet on the staircase at each storey above the ground
storey opening directly into the external air."
Common Lodging Houses.
Under Sections 156-166 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the registration,
licensing, and inspection of common lodging houses are the concern of the Borough Council.
The licences in respect of common lodging houses expire on the 30th June. Applications for
the renewal of licences have to be made by the holder 21 days prior to the licensing meeting,
and notification of the date of the meeting, and of the necessity for making application, if
renewal is desired, has to be sent to each holder. Any objection to the granting or the renewal
of a licence is required to be made in writing at least seven days before the date of the
licensing meeting.
The Borough Council decided that the Public Health Committee should act on their
behalf as the Licensing Authority at the Committee meeting to be held in June, and that the
necessary notices giving the day and time of the meeting should be served on the persons
concerned.
The only common lodging house in the borough, at 60, King's Road (33 beds for
women), was vacated on the 14th March.
Eight visits had been made up to this date, and the premises found to be satisfactory
and to comply with the regulations.
Shops Act, 1934.
The number of shops inspected during the year was 24, and the total number inspected
since the coming into force of the Act is 3,535.
No notices were served and no certificates of exemption were granted.