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Multiple occupation is basically a problem of shortage; it caters for, and thrives on, the
housing needs of a transitory population. Many of those living in such dwellings are people bypassed
by development schemes, people who do not qualify for the Council waiting list, and those
for whom the local authority cannot accept responsibility.
The adoption of basic living standards and the introduction of new national legislation
have considerably strengthened the powers available to the Council to deal with the growing
problem of multiple occupation over-spilling from the heavily populated and congested central
areas of London. But despite the publicity given to this subject, not all tenants seem to appreciate
their rights under the Rent Act, 1965—which aims at security of tenure and fixing fair rents—
and the protection afforded by the Eviction Act, 1964, which provides that a landlord cannot evict
a tenant without first obtaining an order from the court.
Statistics on pages 65 to 69 set out the number of complaints received, inspections
made, notices served and action taken in relation to unsatisfactory housing conditions. This work
is not so sensational as slum clearance, and lacks the visual evidence of multi-storeyed development—there
is no such yardstick to measure the housing stress and hardship suffered by occupants
of sub-standard, defective properties, or to measure the extent to which their plight may be alleviated
as a result of action taken by the public health inspectorate.
Many complaints investigated by the department arise from the adverse effects of nineteenth-century
planning, which cannot be reconciled with problems of the twentieth century. An
inextricable mixture of houses, shops, commercial and industrial premises, situated in close
proximity, often cause annoyance and nuisance to residents from noise, vibration and effluvia,
and create environmental health problems which are incapable of permanent remedy, short of
extinguishing existing use rights of a non-conforming industry; this emphasises the need for, and
importance of, continuous public health inspection and investigation.
WORKING CONDITIONS IN OFFICES AND SHOPS
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, extends health and welfare legislation
into new fields of non-industrial employment. The standard of welfare and safety of office
and shop workers has undoubtedly been advanced as a result of the action so far taken in the
operation and enforcement of the Act. This is due not only to considerable improvements effected
to premises but also to the education of occupiers and staff in the wide range of matters covered
by the legislation involved. Considerable progress has been made but there is still a great deal
to be done.
Two thousand premises have been registered, but the actual number of premises falling to
be dealt with will not be known until the detailed survey at present in progress has been completed.
Over fifty per cent of the premises registered have received a detailed inspection, and as many
notices of contraventions have been served.
A special survey to obtain information in regard to the enforcement of the requirement to
provide suitable and sufficient standards of lighting was carried out during the last three months
of the year, and a detailed report on the findings of the survey (pages 29 to 32 ) was sent to the
Ministry of Labour. The report contained a detailed analysis of 2,513 light meter readings taken
at salient points in various parts of shop and office premises during the month of November, and
the evidence produced emphasised the need for statutory regulations calling for accurate measurement
by light meter or other scientific aid.
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