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themselves, whilst in other cases the constant loss of rent, which is incurred by the removal of
tenants because of the neglectful habits of the other tenants or the landlord, is at least as great
as the cost of keeping the premises in the sanitary condition required by the by-law."
Marylebone—The number of inspections made of registered houses was 1,334.
Hampstead—The number of houses registered was 840. These houses were regularly
inspected.
St. Pancras—The number of houses on the register at the end of the year was 135.
Islington—The number of houses registered during the year was 66, making a total on the
register of 459. The medical officer of health states—" There can be no question that the registration
of houses let out in tenements to different families is a great boon, not only to the tenants, but
to the landlords, for the former are compelled under the by-laws to do their duty in keeping the
premises clean, while the latter are equally not allowed to neglect their obligations to their
tenants." He is of opinion that another inspector should be appointed to assist in the work.
Hackney—Two inspectors, specially appointed for the enforcement of the by-laws, began
their duties in February, 1898, and 334 houses were registered. The medical officer of health
reports that difficulty has arisen in connection with the term landlord, which gives opportunity
to the owner of a house to let the house to one person and to permit the tenant to sub-let in
tenements. " The tenant here becomes the landlord for the purpose of the by-laws, and from this
point the enforcement of these most important by-laws becomes in most cases impossible, for the
very obvious reasons that this class of landlord has no resources." He suggests that the definition
of the term landlord should be the same as that of the term owner in the Public Health (London)
Act.
St. Giles—The number of houses on the register is 618.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields—Houses let in lodgings have been regularly visited by the
inspector permanently appointed for the purpose.
Strand—The Health Committee of the district board had under consideration a report of
the County Council on this subject, and decided that " in view of the great benefits which have
accrued from the regular inspection which has been instituted of registered houses, more houses
should be added to the register." On January 1st, 1899, there were on the register 93 houses.
Holborn—The number of houses registered during 1898 was 25, making a total of 48 on
the register. These premises are inspected monthly.
Clerkenwell—" Satisfactory progress has been made with the work of placing suitable houses
on the register. At the beginning of the year 1899 the number was 137."
St. Luke—The vestry had under consideration the need for the amendment of the by-laws
in two particulars. It had been found that by reason of the rent limit (3s. per week) houses it was
desirable to register, could not be thus dealt with, while others were included with which it was
not necessary to interfere, and further, that the requirement that no steps could be taken for the
registration of houses until the vestry had passed a resolution, had proved an obstacle to the
enforcement of the by-laws. After correspondence with the Local Government Board, by-laws
were confirmed which contained no rent limit, and which exempted houses where the landlord
resides upon the premises and the letting by such landlord is to not more than one lodger. An
additional inspector was appointed to give effect to the by-laws, whose work has led to the discovery
of a much larger number of cases of overcrowding than had before been brought under observation
of the Public Health Department.
City—The registered houses, 487 in number, " are regularly inspected, and in the month of
April of each year their owners are called upon to undertake a systematic cleansing of their
properties."
Shoreditch—The number of houses registered is 114. Proceedings under the by-laws were
instituted against the landlord of five houses for allowing overcrowding and for not taking the
proper measures to keep the common landings, staircases, and passages in a cleanly condition.
Whitechapel—The medical officer of health states that he would like the by-laws which are
applicable to houses let in lodgings to be made to apply " to such of the model dwellings as may
fall below a standard to be agreed upon by the district board."
St. George-in-the-East—-The medical officer of health expresses the opinion that no good
purpose would be served by increasing the limit of 5s., above which tenement-houses are exempt
from the by-laws. There are only 84 houses as yet registered, and many more within this limit
might be registered. Other houses outside the limit can be inspected at unusual hours without a
magistrate's order.
Mile-end Old-town—There are 313 houses on the register, 66 having been registered during
1898. The medical officer of health writes—" These houses are required to be cleansed and whitewashed
at least once every twelve months, and the amount of cubic space required for each adult is
specified. The person who takes the rent from each tenant is responsible for the maintenance of
these regulations. In some cases we have found that the landlords seek to shirk their responsibility
by letting the house to one of the tenants, who collects the rent from the others and thus becomes
the person responsible under these regulations. In spite of this we have succeeded in having
much necessary work carried out, such as cleansing and proper system of drainage, &c. These
houses generally are in a much better condition than formerly.'
Poplar—The medical officer of health states that he reported on a letter of the Council
which expressed the opinion that the by-law in the district is unsatisfactory which exempts from
the by-laws for houses let in lodgings all unfurnished tenements of a rental of 3s. per week or
upwards, and furnished tenements at a rental of 4s. a week and upwards. The subject was still
before the district board.
St. George-the-Martyr—There are now 421 houses registered. The medical officer of health
urges the need for the registration of "model" or "block" dwellings which in this district