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42
After a full two days' enquiry, all the properties were inspected
by the Ministry of Health Inspector, accompanied by one
representative of each owner, and the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
It is gratifying to be able to report, that the Ministry of
Health agreed that all the houses in the various slum clearance
schemes "represented" were unfit for human habitation and must
be demolished.
Individual Unfit House.
No. 50, Kew Green, known as Harwarden Cottage, was upon
inspection found to be unfit for human habitation and not capable
at reasonable expense of being made fit. A representative of the
owners attended the meeting of the Health Committee when the
report on the condition of the dwelling was considered. It was
agreed to accept an Order for demolition, and such "Order" was
subsequently made by the Council, in accordance with Section 19
of the Housing Act, 1930.
Prevention of New Slums.
The duties of a Local Authority under the Housing Acts, deal
not only with the removal of the present slums, but gives powers
for the prevention of future slums. Experience has shown that new
slums were rapidly being created by the evils arising out of subletting,
or the occupation of one house by several families, without
the alterations or adaptations of such building for the purpose.
Unfortunately the greatest evils were being perpetuated by the
use of basements or underground rooms let as separate tenements,
or used for sleeping purposes, and the occupation of top floors, or
attic rooms in large houses with sloping ceilings, let separately as a
tenement.
Such premises being damp, dark, defective and not possessing
the proper sanitary services for the use of tenants occupying them.
Section 19 of the Housing Act, 1930, enables a Local Authority
to close "part of a dwelling" let as a separate tenement if found
unfit for habitation, until it has been made habitable. Similar