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42
Boorugh Council [20 T.L.R. 219] the Local Government Board caused their model bylaws
as to houses let in lodgings to be revised, and in a letter dated May 17th, 1904,
the Board expressed the desire that the Shoreditch Borough Council would consider the
desirability of amending the Bylaws in force in the Borough in a corresponding manner.
The main alteration in the model bylaws of the Board is the insertion of a new clause
which reads as follows:—“Where a duty imposed upon or a prohibition applied to the
landlord of a lodging-house is by any bylaw expressly imposed or applied subject to the
provisions of these bylaws proceedings shall not be taken against the landlord for an
offence against the bylaw unless and until the landlord, after service upon him of a notice
in writing by the Council requiring him within such reasonable time as is specified in the
notice to comply with the bylaw, has failed to comply with the bylaw within the time so
specified.”
The matter was considered by the Health Committee and the Borough Council
amended the bylaws on the lines indicated, and a copy of the bylaws as amended was
submitted for the approval of the Local Government Board. In December a further
communication was received from the Board directing attention to the terms, of the
exemption clause in the Shoreditch bylaws and pointing out the desirability of the
bylaws making definite provision as to what houses are to be subject to their operation.
The Board suggested the adoption of a clause for the purpose of fixing the rental limits
of the houses to which such bylaws shall apply. The Board, however, stated that if,
owing to the varying conditions under which houses are let in lodgings in the Borough,
the Borough Council found a difficulty in fixing rental limits which would work satisfactorily
they would be glad to be informed of the nature of such difficulty and to. be
furnished with same detailed information as to the conditions under which houses are
let in lodgings in the Borough.
The Borough Council, after consideration of a joint report of the Town Clerk and
Medical Officer of Health, sent a reply to the Local Government Board pointing out that
the varying conditions under which houses are let in lodgings in the Borough make it
very difficult, if not impossible, to fix rental limits which would be likely to work
satisfactorily for the following reasons:—
(a) A number of houses which are now registrable and which it is desirable should
be registered in the Borough would be excluded from the operation of the bylaws
unless a high rental limit were fixed. Not infrequently it has been found necessary, on
account of the recurrence of insanitary conditions to place upon the register houses let
in lodgings for which lodgers pay from 7s. to 13s. 6d. per week. There are houses on the
register in the Borough in which lodgers pay for their lodgings 7s. per week in 30
instances, 7s. 6d. in 14, 8s. in 6, 8s. 6d. in 3, 9s. in 3, 9s. 6d. in 2, 10s. in 3, 10s. 6d.
in 2, l1s. in 2, 12s. in 6 and 13s. 6d. in one instance. At the same time the fixing of a
high rent limit would compel the registration of a number of houses which are not of
a class usually requiring registration, and where great dissatisfaction and friction would
not, without reason, be generated. In short, the rents paid by lodgers are a most
unreliable guide as to the sanitary condition or otherwise of houses let in lodgings in
Shoreditch.