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accommodate upwards of 12,800 inmates. " These dwellings, often inhabited by the uneducated
and unruly poor, are for the most part badly supervised." He states that the inspector (Miss
Elliot) has done good work during the year. In 479 cases overcrowding was found.
Newington—There are two houses in this district on the register. The medical officer of
health states—" During the year various houses have been recommended by me for registration,
but the sub-committee having this matter in hand thought, after an inspection, that they were in
too good a state to be placed on the register. Of course, when my representation was made, I held
the opinion that these houses were suitable ones to be placed on the register. It speaks much,
however, for the condition of the parish when no houses can be found debased enough for
registration."
St. Olave—Nineteen houses have been registered in this district.
Bermondsey—The number of houses on the register is 292.
Lambeth—During 1898 258 houses were registered containing 1,513 rooms, and in which are
housed 2,495 persons. The vestry appointed an extra inspector for this purpose. In 1897, 93
houses were registered.
Battersea—The medical officer of health states that the rent limit of exempted houses, viz.,
seven shillings and sixpence for unfurnished, and ten shillings and sixpence for furnished
tenements, would permit the greater part of the houses in the district to be registered. Fortyfour
houses in three streets " to which the by-laws advisedly apply " have been registered. " These
houses were kept under close and constant observation, more particularly during the latter part of
the year, by the female sanitary inspector, who advised the tenants upon questions of domestic
hygiene and cleanliness of the rooms occupied by them, with good results in many cases."
Wandsworth (Clapham)—No additional houses were registered. Those on the register
" were inspected regularly, and much cleansing work had to be ordered." No overcrowding was
found, and the medical officer of health considers the desirability of night inspection should be
considered. " Several summonses for breaches of the by-laws had to be withdrawn, because the
landlord let the whole house to a weekly tenant, who sub-let to other weekly tenants."
(Putney)—There are no houses registered in this district, the medical officer of health
being of opinion that the most insanitary houses would not be subject to the by-laws, and that the
labour involved would be very great.
(Streatham)—The medical officer of health points out the necessity for an increase of the
staff of sanitary inspectors, and he writes—" I am strongly of opinion that at least that class of
property coming within the definition of the by-laws relative to houses let in lodgings should be
subject to annual inspection."
(Wandsworth)—There are now 17 houses on the register, and "except in one case where
proceedings were taken, all the usual cleansing and lime-washing was carried out."
Camberwell—The medical officer of health writes—" The registration of lodging-houses has
been again before the vestry with, I regret to say, no more satisfactory result than before. I
have before pointed out that the limit of exemption in Camberwell is too low, particularly in
regard to unfurnished apartments. The Sanitary Committee surveyed some of the houses which
are above the present limit, and agreed with me that these houses were eminently suitable for
registration, and they recommended the raising of the exemption clause, with a provision that before
a house is registered it must first of all be inspected by myself, then brought before a sub-committee,
who would also inspect the premises, and report to the main committee, and they in their
turn to the vestry. The vestry declined to pass the recommendation. A resolution was, however,
passed, which I trust will be successful, namely, that the vestry approach the Local Government
Board and ask that a fresh interpretation regarding the word ' landlord' be inserted in the
existing by-laws, so as to get rid of the difficulty alluded to in my report for 1897. As to the
beneficial effects of registration, I can only repeat what I said last year, and ask the members of
the vestry to go and look at the houses that are on the register and compare them with those that
are not. I feel certain that they will not fail to notice the difference and the improvement."
Greenwich—During 1898, in Greenwich, 11 houses, and in Deptford 18, were registered.
The medical officer of health of Deptford states that registered houses " have received more than
usual attention, thereby avoiding overcrowding, and ensuring cleanliness and proper ventilation."
Woolwich—There are 65 houses on the register in this district which the medical officer of
health reports have been systematically inspected.
Plumstead—Four houses were on the register at the beginning of the year and twenty at
the end. During 1898 the medical officer of health recommended the registration of 68 additional
houses. " A few were registered and still remain on the register. Of the others a large proportion
were ordered to be registered, but the notice to register had the effect that the occupiers or
lodgers were turned out, and the houses reduced to occupation by one family. The remainder the
committee did not consider required to be registered, but ordered them to be kept under observation
for a time."
Common Lodging-houses.
The year 1898 was the fifth year during which common lodging-houses in the County of
London have been subject to regulation by the Council. The number of houses on the register at
the end of the year was 560, providing accommodation for 28,332 persons. Seven of these houses
were registered for the first time in 1898. In the supervision of these houses, the Council's
inspectors made 28,065 inspections, of which number, 27,658 visits were made to registered, and
407 visits were made to unregistered houses. In 264 cases preliminary notices were served to
compel the keepers to comply with various requirements, and statutory notices were served in 15
cases. Proceedings before the magistrate were instituted in 29 cases, and fines were inflicted
amounting in the aggregate to £142 11s., and £24 12s. 6d. costs.