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standard, many of which are made slum-like by sub-letting on the
part of the tenants, the consequence of which is bad overcrowding
often accompanied by want of cleanliness or bad treatment of the
houses. A striking result of misuse by tenants is found in two
roads in South Ealing where many of the houses which are of fairly
modern construction and which, though they look fairly well from
the outside, are in a bad condition internally. These houses are
constantly receiving inspectorial visits by the Sanitary Inspector
and the owners are constantly carrying out decorative and other
repairs with but little lasting effect on account of the ill-use or neglect
to which they are exposed.
On the whole the owners and the house agents meet the demands
of the Inspectors in a very reasonable spirit, with the result that very
few prosecutions are necessary to effect the large amount of repairs
which are done each year. A large amount of work has been
done by the Inspectors in successive years in having houses rendered
in every respect reasonably fit for habitation.
In the Table which follows it will be noted that 584 houses were
surveyed, and rendered reasonably fit when found necessary, during
1925 and that as many as 1,325 houses were inspected for housing
defects.
No action has been taken with respect to unfit houses under
the Housing Acts, the procedure under the Public Health Acts
proving much more simple and satisfactory in dealing with the
defects encountered.
Unhealthy Areas.-—No complaints have been received and
no representations have been made with respect to unhealthy areas.
Byei.aws Relating to Houses.—The old Byelaws with
respect to new streets and buildings were replaced by new ones
which were adopted in 1925, and which were agreed upon by various
municipal councils in the western suburbs in order to secure
unifoimity.