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38
DWELLING HOUSES.
Reference has been made in several previous annual reports as to the
extremely defective housing accommodation provided for the working classes
in the tenement houses of this part of London. The following paragraphs
appeared in last year's report:—
"Very commonly the houses consist of four floors, each containing two rooms,
"and each floor is let to a separate family. Sometimes, however, the tenant has a
"single room; or on the other hand, may be able to afford three or four rooms. In
"the latter case he may occupy the whole of two floors. In parts of the borough
"some of the tenement houses have three rooms on each floor.
"It is quite usual to lind such a sub-let house provided with only one w.c.—
"generally in the yard—and with no scullery accommodation or separate sinks for
"the various tenants, though frequently there are one or more water-taps for the
"common use of the tenants on the staircase. It is thus brought about that in
"many tenement houses families have to live in one, two or more rooms, with no
"proper separate accommodation in the way of w.c., scullery, sink, water supply,
"yard (or balcony) &c., and frequently separated from the common w.c. or water
"tap by several flights of stairs.
"It cannot be doubted that grave injury rosults to the public health from these
"evils. They are not confined to the ' slums,' but are endured by many respectable
"working-class people who pay rents which would in many other towns provide
"them with good separate cottages."
The problem presented by these tenement houses is of the greatest importance,
and it cannot be too strongly urged that measures ought to be taken
at the earli'st opportunity to replace them by tenements offering sufficient
accommodation for the families inhabiting them. In some cases this could be
done by suitable reconstruction of the existing houses, while in others extensive
schemes of demolition and re-building are required.
Inspection of Dwelling-houses.
The inspections of dwelling houses made duri g the year will be seen in
table 5 on page 63, where they are divided into those following infectious
disease, those made upon complaint, those carried out under the Housing, Town
Planning, etc., Act, 1909, inspection of registered tenement houses other than
the preceding, and other house to-house inspections.
Underground Rooms.
During the year letters were sent in respect of 19 underground rooms (in
17 houses) which did not comply with the requirements of the Housing, Town
Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and the regulations made thereunder. 4 closing
orders in respect of underground rooms (in 3 houses) were made.
In addition 5 intimation notices were served in regard to underground rooms
illegally occupied as dwellings.
Houses unfit for Human Habitation.
4 houses (6, 7, 11 and 15, Redhill Street), were represented during 1917 as
unfit (September 19th) and Closing Orders were made by the Council in
respect of them.