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71
Houses Let in Lodgings. By-laws relating to houses let in
lodgings were made by the Woolwich Board of Health, and
and the Plumstead Vestry, and are still applied to these parts
of the Borough. No by-laws applying to Eltham have been
made. In the administration of these by-laws, difficulties have
arisen in the past mainly because of ambiguity in the definition
of landlord, e.g., in many cases it may be interpreted as the
tenant who sublets. Only in rare instances has it been
possible to enforce structural provisions necessary on the
weekly tenant, and so the action required has been taken
under the Public Health Act against the owner. This difficulty
will disappear when the new by-laws, made by the
London County Council under the Housing Act of 1925, and
applicable to all London, receive the approval of the Minister
of Health. Incidentally they will abolish registration.
In statistical form is given below information relating to
the action taken with regard to houses let in lodgings during
the year.

Tents and Vans. By-laws regulating the use of these were
made by the Council in 1903. The number of these habitations
is, fortunately, very small. There are three small
permanent colonies of tent and van dwellers, numbering 18
dwellings in all. Reports on these are generally satisfactory,
and in many respects, particularly cleanliness, some of them
are better maintained than many dwelling houses. The
wandering gipsy, however, is not of the same type, and