London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS. labnlar Statement of Replies from the Medical Officers of Health to the Council's letter of 28th November, 1902, together with other particulars.
| Metropolitan borough. | Population (1901). | Number of inhabited houses (1901). | Tenements (1901). | Number of houses now on register. | Number newly entered on register during present year. | Frequency with which registered houses are inspected. | Are the registered houses inspected by special officers, acJ if so how many are employed on this duty and on what other duties, if any, are they engaged ? | Number of proceedings instituted under the by-laws before the magistrate during the present year— (a) Concerning cleansing. (b) „ overcrowding. (c) „ other matters. | Date when by-laws were confirmed. | Whether by-laws contain rent-limits or other exemptions | Whether, and if so what, difficulties have been experienced in the administration of the by-laws in respect of the definition of landlord, rent-limits of exemption or any other matter. | Remarks. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number. | Less than 5 rooms. | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Battersea | 168,907 | 23,462 | 38,987 | 24,089 | 49 | 30 | Annually | The houses are inspected by the three sanitary inspectors in whose districts the premises are situated. General duties of a sanitary inspector | None | 28-8-93 | Yes† | Upon receiving notice of registration, landlords have very frequently raised the rents in order to take the premises beyond the scope of the by-laws. | |
| Bermondsey | 130,760 | 15,817 | 29,073 | 22,064 | 350 | None | About every 3 months | No | None | 4-12-01 | No | No difficulties have been experienced in these matters | New by-laws recently confirmed. |
| Bethnal-green | 129,680 | 14,005 | 28,209 | 23,732 | 9 | None | Very frequently | Yes; one. Other duties in connection with H.W.C. Act | No proceedings beyond statutory notices | 16-1-95 | (See bylaw no‡ | Yes. Owners decline to supply requisite particulars for registration since decision in Weatheritt v. Cantley. | |
| Camberwell | 259,339 | 36,671 | 56,985 | 31,926 | 191 | 23 | Annually and at irregular intervals | No | None | 10-9-01 | Yes† | Limits of exemption were too low. The fixing of legal responsibility has been practically impossible in cases where the house as a whole is let on a weekly tenancy, and the weekly tenant himself sublets, and thus brings the house into this category. The medical officer hopes these difficulties will be all obviated by some new by-laws made by the Council, but which have not yet been finally approved by the Local Government Board. | |
| Chelsea | 73,842 | 8,641 | 17,467 | 12,082 | — | — | — | — | — | 7-10-68 | (See bylaw III.) | — | No action has recently been taken as to by-laws for houses let in lodgings. |
| City of London | 26,923 | 3,865 | 5,339 | 3,307 | 396 (1900) | - | - | By an inspector in each district, in addition to other duties | Notices served being complied with, no further proceedings were necessary | 8-5-96 | § Yes† | No difficulties have arisen | Number removed from register during 1900—Nine. |
| Deptford | 110,398 | 15,823 | 24,615 | 13,956 | 34 | None. | Quarterly | Not by special officers, but by the sanitary inspector for the district | None | 22-11-02 | No | Frequent changes of occupiers. | |
| Finsbury | 101,463 | 9,280 | 24,097 | 20,515 | 849 | 522 | No stated periods, but every year thoroughly, generally in the spring. Also from time to time | No. Each sanitary inspector supervises in his district | (a) 11, (6) 10, (c) 1 | 16-10-01 | Yes* | None. In a case where the landlord had declined on technical grounds to supply the particulars necessary for registration, a summons was issued in the Clerkenwell police court, at the hearing of which, on March 4th, 1902, defendant was represented by counsel who took the objection: "That as the house was let in floors of two rooms each, the landlord being non-resident, it ceased to be a house liable to registration, but became a set of houses, as the occupier of each set of rooms was entitled under the franchise to a vote as a householder." The case of Weatheritt v. Cantley was quoted. The learned magistrate, Mr. Bros, overruled the objection and fined the defendant Is. and £2 2s. costs. | |
| Fulham | 137,289 | 18,534 | 32,137 | 21,681 | 329 | - | - | Yes. Has been otherwise employed this year | - | 29-1-94 4-11-95 (amending clause as to exemption) | Yes† | Difficulties have been experienced in the administration of the existing by-laws consequent upon the definition of the term "landlord." The Local Government Board expressed their willingness to confirm some new by-laws drafted by the Public Health Committee in which this definition was amended and some other alterations made, but the Borough Council refused to adopt the by-laws. | |
| Greenwich | 95,770 | 14,240 | 19,702 | 10,877 | 19 | - | Many informal inspections have been made to obtain data upon which to base revised requirements | No | None | 22-12-96 | (See bylaw II.) || | Nothing has been done during the year with respect to actual registration and inspection, because during the whole of the period the Borough Council has been engaged in drawing up fresh bylaws, which has necessitated much correspondence with the Local Government Board as they would insist upon an exemption clause fixing definite amounts of rent. An arrangement respecting the matter has been come to, and the formal sanction of the Board is now awaited. The medical officer anticipates that more houses will be entered on the register as soon as the new by-laws come into force. | |
† Rent-limits of exemption.
‡ If, and so Jong as, the vestry deem it unnecessary to register.
§ Whenever the vestry may deem it expedient to put regulations in force.
|| Until the landlord has been required to furnish a statement as to certain particulars.
* When the landlord resides upon the premises and the letting by such landlord is to not more than one lodger.