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129
COMMON LODGING HOUSES
The work in connection with common lodging houses is carried out under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
The number of common lodging houses in the borough is four, the number of
beds being 123, 87, 46 and 28 respectively. All the lodging houses are for males.
During the year 34 visits of inspection were paid.
In general it may be said that the common lodging houses are not of modern type ;
the buildings are old and the houses can only be kept up to the required standard of
efficiency by constant supervision.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS
At the end of the year 1938, 378 houses were registered as houses let in lodgings.
The type of house varies but the greater proportion consist of from seven to ten
rooms. It need hardly be mentioned that the majority of these houses were originally
constructed for a totally different purpose and generally it may be said that they
are unsatisfactory for the purpose for which they are used. This is however a
difficulty which can only be overcome when improvement is effected in the housing of
the people as a whole. Many of these houses have basement rooms which are occupied
in contravention of the regulations of the borough council. The sanitary conveniences
are usually in the yard ; there is generally a water supply in the yard and
most of the houses have a water supply on the upper floors. The sinks are often fitted
on the landings of the staircase. The houses are kept in fair repair, and action to
maintain this is taken mainly under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. During
the year 132 visits of inspections were made. There was no appreciable amount of
overcrowding above that which generally prevails in the district.
VERMINOUS HOUSES
It was necessary to take measures on account of the presence of vermin in
respect of 140 houses, and in connection with these 239 rooms were dealt with during
the year, sanitary notices being served where necessary.
VERMINOUS PERSONS
During the year the homes of 2 children, a boy and a girl, notified as
verminous by the School Medical Officer, were reported with a view to the homes,
bedding, etc., being dealt with by the Sanitary Authority, whilst the children were
cleansed and their clothing disinfected at the cleansing stations of the London County
Council. Intimation was also received that 2 girls had been given the opportunity of