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Facilities for Storage, Preparation and Cooking of Food (Contd.)
for a one room letting - 3 cu.ft.
for a two room letting - 4 cu.ft.
for a three room letting - 6 cu.ft.
for a dwelling comprising more than three
rooms - 8 cu.ft.
(a) Facilities to be provided in a living room
provided the room is of adequate size or
alternatively they can be provided on a
landing so long as the landing is sufficiently
large, ventilated, properly lighted and separate
for the use of one family.
(b) Where a room is let to one person and no meals
,are provided, kitchen facilities are to be
available for each individual room as above,
or one equipped kitchen provided for every
four such persons.
Overcrowding In Houses-Let-in-Lodgings
Originally, overcrowding in houses-let-in-lodgings or occupied by members of more than
one family, was dealt with under byelaws made under the Public Health Act, 1875, and later reenacted
by various Housing Acts. The power to make byelaws for this purpose ceased to have
effect from the date of operation of Part IV of the Housing Act, 1936, relating to overcrowding
and eventually the power given to local authorities to prevent overcrowding in houses-let-inlodgings
was transferred to Section 90 of the Housing Act, 1957.
Section 90 (1) states "if it appears to a local authority, in the case of
a house within their district, or of part of such a house, which is let in lodgings or occupied
by members of more than one family, that excessive numbers of persons .are being accommodated on
the premises having regard to the rooms available, the local authority may serve on the occupier
of the premises or on any person having the control and management thereof, or on both, a notice -
(a) stating, in relation to any room on the premises, what is in the authority's
opinion the maximum number of persons by whom it is suitable to be occupied
as sleeping accommodation at any one time, or, as the case may be, that it is
in their opinion unsuitable to be occupied as aforesaid."
Part IV of the Act of 1957 deals generally with premises used as a separate dwelling.
Section 90, however, applies to a house or part of a house which is let-in-lodgings or occupied
by members of more than one family. The main purpose of the Section seems to be to give local
authorities power to prevent overcrowding in that type of establishment, where it is likely to
occur. Such establishments include hostels, lodging houses, poor classes of hotels, where
dormitory type of accommodation is provided, and also houses where a number of lodgers are
accommodated, either for bed and breakfast, or full board.
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