View report page

20
B.—PREMISES USED FOR HUMAN HABITATION.
The only premises used for human habitation in respect of which there is a
system of registration are what are called "Houses let in Lodgings" and "Common
Lodging Houses." Rooms underground if used as sleeping rooms or for human
habitation apart from rooms on the upper floors, though they are not definitely
registered are required to comply with certain requirements contained in the Public
Health Act and special regulations. They are referred to here for this reason.
Houses Let in Lodgings:—Included under this head are all ordinary tenement
houses in which the rooms or floors are let out at rents below a certain sum. To
some extent as a result of housing shortage a very large proportion of the houses in
the Borough are of course so let, but only in the case of those in which the lettings
are below the sum fixed has the question ot registration been raised. When the
new by-laws to be made by the London County Council under The Housing, Town
Planning, etc., Act, 1919, come into operation, the number of houses on the register
will be greatly increased since no provision whatever has been made for exemption.
All houses suitable for the working classes and occupied by members of more than
one family are subject to registration, and in them there must be compliance with
certain requirements as to sanitation, cleanliness, cleansing, etc.
During the year under review no additions were made to the list of registered
houses. The actual number on the register at the end of 1920 was, therefore, 1,152.
The object of registration being largely to ensure that the houses shall be kept
under supervision, all were regularly and systematically inspected. In all 6,621
visits were paid; 1,169 notices relating to cleansing and other defects were served,
all of which were complied with without the necessity for further proceedings arising.
Common Lodging Houses.—Though the licence in the case of these houses is
actually granted or renewed yearly by the London County Council, the grant or
renewal is made subject to the approval of the Borough Council who are provided
with a list of applications received prior to the day fixed for consideration.
The following table contains all the necessary particulars with regard to the
licensed premises of this class in the Borough. On account of the war and the
reduction in the number of lodgers, one or two of the lodging houses were shut down
and will not again be used in this way. Of those still on the list special reference
may be made to "Portman House" in which accommodation is provided for women
only.