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42
BYE-LAWS AS TO ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING OF COMMON STAIRCASES IN TENEMENT
HOUSES AND FLATS
BYE-LAWS made by the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of
St. Marylebone under Section 63 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1956,
for the adequate artificial lighting of any common staircase in tenement houses and flats.
1.—In these byelaws, unless the context otherwise requires—"flat" means a separate and self-contained
set of premises constructed for use for the purposes of a dwelling and forming part of a building from some
other part of which it is divided horizontally; "block of flats" means a building which contains two or
more flats and which consists of three or more storeys; "family" includes a single person living alone or a
group of persons living together as a single household; " tenement house" means a house which is not a
block of flats and which is let in lodgings or is occupied by members of more than one family; "owner"
means in relation to a flat or block of flats the person for the time being entitled to receive the rack rent for
his own benefit or as agent or trustee for another person or the person who would be so entitled if the dwellings
were let at rack rents; "occupier" means in relation to a tenement house the person for the time being
having control of the lettings of the separate tenements comprised in the tenement house; "common
staircase" means any staircase the use of which is common to the members of two or more families and
includes any landing used in connection therewith.
2.—These byelaws apply to common staircases in tenement houses and blocks of flats.
Provided that in the case of common staircases in tenement houses such byelaws shall not apply until
after service by the Borough Council on the occupier thereof of a notice in writing requiring such occupier
to provide and maintain adequate artificial lighting of common staircases therein.
3.—The occupier of every tenement house to which these byelaws apply and the owner of every block
of flats shall provide and maintain adequate means for the artificial lighting of all common staircases within
every such tenement house or block of flats and such artificial lighting shall be by means of either gas or
electricity.
4.—The occupier of every tenement house to which these byelaws apply and the owner of every block
of flats shall provide adequate artificial lighting for all common staircases—
(a) from half an hour before sunset until 1 a.m.
(b) for one hour before sunrise during the months of October, November, December, January,
February and March ; and
(c) at other times as and when necessary if adequate means of natural lighting are not provided.
5.—Electric lighting controlled by a suitable system of retracting switches or other similar device
shall be deemed to comply with the preceding byelaw.
6.—Any system of artificial lighting provided in pursuance of the requirements of these byelaws shall
be efficiently maintained in good working order by the occupier of every tenement house to which these
byelaws apply or by the owner of every block of flats and shall be reasonably protected against interference
by unauthorised persons.
7.—Every person who shall offend against any of these byelaws shall be liable on summary conviction
to a fine not exceeding five pounds, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding
forty shillings for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.