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He says, " I think on the whole, registration has been a success in all the cases which, until now
have come under the operation of the by-laws ; the condition of the houses comparing most favourably
with what obtained previous to registration. Should the committee recommend an extension of the
number, it would certainly bring about an enforced cleanliness, and an improved general sanitary
condition of the houses so registered, entailing also, should the number be considerably increased, the
appointment of an additional inspector, who, of course, would have to deal with the difficult question
of overcrowding by night inspection, which should certainly not be made except in cases where there is
very good reason to suspect the evil to exist.''
St. George, Southwark—The number of houses on the register is 399. " In this parish, houses
built on the so-called 'model' or block system, and accommodating upwards of 12,800 inmates, at
present escape the salutary provisions of the new by-laws. These dwellings, often inhabited by the
uneducated and unruly poor, are for the most part badly supervised."
Newington—There were no registered houses in this district in 1897, although the medical
officer of health has on many occasions submitted a list of houses which he was of opinion should be
dealt with. "Many meetings have been held, and owners have over and over again been requested to
furnish the particulars referred to in the regulations, and many of the owners have attended before the
sub-committee to state their objections, yet still nothing definite in the way of registration has taken
place." He combats the view that houses of the better class will be registered, and points out that " it
would only be the debased property always more or less out of repair that would be registered," and
that night visits would be infrequent. He believes " that this alarm about houses being placed under
the regulations for houses let in lodgings would entirely disappear if a reasonable quantity of houses
were operated upon, and that within twelve months, as far as objections are concerned, the whole
matter would have been forgotten." Since writing his report, two houses have been put upon the
register.
St. Olave—The number of houses registered during the year was 18.
Bermondsey—There were 300 houses on the register, none were registered during 1897. A
lodger was fined for allowing overcrowding, and a landlord for not keeping a house in a cleanly and
wholesome condition.
Rotherhithe—Nine houses were registered during the year.
Lambeth—By-laws were confirmed during 1871, and the vestry have selected for registration
93 houses, containing 566 rooms, in which are housed 282 families, consisting of 992 persons, of whom
682 are over 10 years of age. The houses selected are those which cannot be otherwise satisfactorily
inspected and supervised, and where there is reason to believe that overcrowding and other insanitary
conditions exist to such an extent as to be a nuisance and a danger to health. He writes that the
importance of this work cannot be over estimated, especially in the inner districts, and expresses the
hope that the vestry will appoint an additional sanitary inspector for the purpose.
Wandsworth—(Clapham)—The medical officer of health states that " the one street in which the
by-laws have been enforced is not in a much better condition than was formerly the case. The important
element is undoubtedly frequent inspection, for landlords who cater for the class of tenants I am referring
to will not take the trouble to do the more frequent cleansing work that is necessary without very
constant looking up."He says" there are many other nuisances recurring, 'such as defective waterclosets,
dilapidated walls and staircases, leaky roofs, &c., that cannot be dealt with under the by-laws
but require the service of another set of notices, so that the procedure is much more complicated," and
that where a tenant sub-lets, it is he who has to be proceeded against, " manifestly a hopeless business."
Dr. Hamer, reporting on the registered houses in this district, writes, " the condition of the registered
houses in this district suggests that full advantage is not taken of the powers which by-laws afford even
in the case of the single street to which they have been made to apply."
(Putney and Roehampton)—The medical officer of health is of opinion that in these parishes
the most insanitary houses are not those which would be subject to the by-laws, and that the labour
involved in putting in force the by-laws would be very great.
(Streatham)—In regretting the falling off of house to house inspection, owing apparently to
insufficiency of the staff, the medical officer of health says that this inspection would enable the local
committee to determine where, with advantage, the by-laws relating to houses let in lodgings might
advisedly be put in force.
(Wandsworth)—There are 13 houses on the register, and these will be added to as occasion
requires.
Camberwell—The medical officer of health writes, " As regards the good effect of the by-laws, I
will only ask the members of the vestry to look at some of the houses in Hollington-street, there will
be no need for them to enquire which are registered and which are not, for the premises speak for
themselves clearly enough." He says that further need has shown itself of raising the rent limit, if
those houses, which it is most desirable to register, are not to escape the by-laws, and that 15s. per
week is not " too great a limit to place on these houses so far as regards unfurnished rooms." In
connection with proceedings before a magistrate, difficulty arose as to the definition of landlord, the
defendants, a firm of house agents, having successfully contended that they were not the landlords, the
house being let to one man, who himself sub-lets.
Greenwich—During the year eight houses were registered.
Woolwich—The number of houses registered in this district is 65.
Lee (Charlton)—The medical officer of health thinks the registration of houses unnecessary in
this district.