View report page

Underground Rooms.—Section 12 (2) of the Housing Act, 1936, states that a
room, the surface of the floor of which is more than 3 feet below the surface of the
street adjoining or more than 3 feet below the surface of any ground within 9 feet
of the room, shall be deemed to be unfit for human habitation if either:—
(a) the average height of the room from floor to ceiling is not at least
7 feet ; or
(b) the room does not comply with regulations made by the local authority
for securing proper ventilation and lighting, and protection against dampness,
effluvia or exhalation.
The regulations in force at the beginning of 1936 had been made by the Council
under the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909, and had not been revised since
they were made in 1911.
As recent Acts have amended the law with regard to underground rooms, the
Council decided to revise their underground room regulations and a new set was
submitted to the Minister of Health during the year. Certain objections to the
Council's proposals were made by the Minister and there was a further exchange of
views. The Minister's decision had not been given at the end of the year.
Clearance Areas.—More unfit houses were dealt with during the year than
in any year since the five-year programme was started. The steps taken by the
Borough Council and the situation at the end of the year in each area represented
by me since 1934 are set out in the following pages:—
(1) Shepherds Farm Hutments.—The Clearance Order in respect of this area
of 67 hutments was confirmed in 1934. At the end of 1936 all the hutments had
been demolished.