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very often to friction between various tenants in a house. The
cumulative effect of all these shortcomings is to place a severe strain on
the occupants of such houses, particularly on the housewives.
The existing Byelaws which were intended to regulate these
conditions are also quite inadequate. On the one hand action should be
taken to improve the conditions under which so many hundreds of
families are living in this type of house ; on the other hand the enforced
provision of sinks, cookers, larders, etc., may prejudice the interests of
property owners who do not welcome sub-letting, and may cause
greater hardship to such tenants who would be required to quit their
rooms.
The remedy, of course, is bound up with the question of the general
improvement to housing conditions by means of the erection of new
dwellings, but it must be remembered that this problem existed in the
London area even during the times when the housing difficulties were
not so acute as they are to-day, due, no doubt, to purely economic
considerations. The Council were informed, as a result of an enquiry
to the appropriate Ministry, that the question of the revision of the
Byelaws relating to Houses let in Lodgings was under active review.
It would be possible by means of new Byelaws to establish a revised
standard of convenience for sub-tenants with a proper apportionment
of responsibility.
Whilst some of the larger houses in the district do lend themselves
to multiple occupation, many of the houses which are occupied by two
or three families are really too small for satisfactory standards to be
maintained. It will be seen, therefore, that the problem is one which
cannot be resolved in a matter of a few months, but it is hoped that some
policy may be formulated whereby a gradual improvement can be
obtained and that the tendency of extending the practice of sub-letting
may be regulated. Action can best be taken before the premises
become occupied by more than one family, but there is, unfortunately, a
general lack of knowledge as to the necessity for application to be made
under the Byelaws, and, where necessary, under the Building Byelaws
and Town Planning provisions. When once families are in occupation
of rooms, any subsequent action by the local authority appears hard and
officious.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE DISTRICT
This borough is particularly favoured in respect of its environmental
conditions. There have been, however, a few incidents where the
establishment of industries in what are generally considered to be
residential areas, have brought complaints of noxious fumes and
unsightly accumulations. Stricter control by the Town Planning