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the Working Classes Act, 1890. It does not necessarily follow that in the other districts proceedings
have not been instituted for closing houses, the explanation being that many of the local
authorities have found it more convenient to proceed under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
Houses let in lodgings.
A point of considerable importance in connection with the regulation of tenement bouses
has been recently before the Courts. The Vestry of St. George- the- Martyr decided to register
under section 94 of the Public Health (London) Act a block of artizans' dwellings in Gun-street,
and summoned the owner for not furnishing them with the particulars of the house after having
received notice to do so. The magistrate held that the block did not constitute a house let in
lodgings. A case as stated showed that the block is entered directly from Gun-street by a single
entrance. There is a front door to the entrance, but no means of fastening the same beyond a
Norfolk latch. The figure " 2 " is affixed to the transome of the door frame; The entrance
passage branches into two passages about the centre of the building, and there are two doubleroomed
tenements and oue single-roomed tenement on each outer side of the passage, and one
single-roomed tenement between and two single-branch passages. This is the arrangement on
each of the floors. Each of the two-roomed tenements and the single-roomed tenement is let to
a separate family. Thus No. 1, two rooms, was occupied by a man, wife and four children; and
No. 2, two rooms, by a man, wife and three children. The two-roomed tenements are let at a
weekly rent of 6s. and 6s. 0(1. per week, and the single-roomed tenements at 4s. per week. At
the back end of each passage on each of the floors there is a water-closet, sink, water-tap, and
dust-shoot opening. On the south side this convenience serves for the use in common of four
tenements, and on the north side for the use in common of three tenements. The staircase and
passages are used in common. The tenements are generally occupied by a class of people who are
not cleanly in their habits. The landlord does not live on the premises. A caretaker lives on
the ground floor who attends to minor repairs. He has no power to let the premises, but he
receives deposits from tenants, and, without the authority of the landlord, has let four tenements,
furnished, at Ts. per week. He also cleans the common passages and staircases and the waterclosets.
The names of the occupiers of the various tenements in the building appear on the ratebook,
and each of the tenements is rated separately, but the landlord compounds for the rates.
On behalf of the respondent it was contended that, as the tenements were in separate sets and the
landlord did not reside on the premises, the building was not a lodging-house; that the by-laws
were not intended to apply to houses of this character, but to lodging-houses where people live
there in common; and that under the authority of the various cases decided under the Registration
of Electors' Acts with regard to inhabited occupiers and lodgings, the tenements were
separate dwelling-houses, although they were not actually separated. The case has since been
argued before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Lawrance, and Mr. Justice Phillimore, and
the decision of the magistrate upheld.
The large majority of the annual reports of the medical officers of health give information
of the proceedings of the sanitary authorities in connection with the regulation of houses let in
lodgings. The following is a brief summary of the statements made in these reports—
Paddington—In consequence of proposed alterations in the by-laws, the work of registration
has been in abeyance since 1898. The vestry were desirous of exempting from registration
houses in which unfurnished tenements of single rooms were let at a rate of 4s. 6d. per week and
upwards, and furnished tenements of single rooms at a rate of 6s. per week and upwards, and
where each of such rooms is occupied by not more than two persons of ages exceeding ten years.
The Local Government Board took exception to the words " of ages exceeding ten years," on the
ground that the addition of such words would under certain circumstances exempt a lodging
occupied by a man and wife with a family of children under ten years of age, if it consisted of a
single room, while it would not exempt it if it consisted of more than two rooms. The Vestry,
therefore, withdrew the words, and the by-law was confirmed. Although no houses were newly
registered, a considerable number of those already registered " were completely inspected and
brought up to the standard prescribed by the by-laws."
Kensington—By-laws made in 1885 are in force in this district, and upwards of 1,700
houses have been since registered. Certain other by-laws have been submitted to the Local
Government Board. These require (1) that the landlord shall give notice to the sanitary
authority when intending to carry out the annual cleansing (of the competency of this by-law the
Board has expressed doubt); (2) that the landlord shall give notice of overcrowding; (3) that
the landlord of furnished rooms shall cause the bedding and other articles to be maintained in
a clean and wholesome condition, and free from noxious insects. The decision of the Board as
to (2) and (3) is still awaited.
Hammersmith—Directions were given for the registration of 129 houses during the year,
making a total of 635 on the register. The medical officer of health states that it has not been
found possible to regularly inspect the premises which were registered, and that it is absolutely
necessary to appoint another inspector for the purpose.
Fulham—Difficulties having arisen in connection with the definition of the term “landlord”
in the by-laws, new by-laws were drafted and submitted to the Local Government
Board, and “pending their approval the registration of houses let in lodgings remains in
abeyance.”
Westminster—Over one thousand houses are on the register, and summonses were issued
in two cases and penalties inflicted.
Hampstead—The number of houses registered is 840.
St. Pancras—The number of houses on the register was at the end of the year 834, “and of
these 104 inspections and 158 re-inspections (after notice) were made. In addition, 2,090 house-