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employment of a large number of Public Health Inspectors. Conditions
such as recently found within this district where a five
roomed house occupied by five families (13 people with two
babies expected) shared 1 toilet, 1 bathroom, 2 gas cookers in
a common kitchen (which also contained the only water suppl),
lack of hot water supplies, ventilated food cupboards and dustbins
and a complete absence of essential fire precautions at
an average rental of £4.4s.0d. per week are then dealt with
under the appropriate sections of the Housing Acta.
Means of Escape in Case of Fire for houses in multiple
occupation is required by Section 16 of the Housing Act 1961.
Originally the Local Authority were required to consult the
local Fire Authority for their recommendations which were then
incorporated into any Notice under Section 16 served by the
Local Authority.
As a result of the meeting of the London Borough's Association
it was decided that any Local Authority who adopted
the "Code of Practice" used by the Fire Brigade would be
deemed to have consulted the Fire Brigade, therefore inspections
under Section 16 of the Housing Act are now carried out
by Public Health Inspectors. The Code is complicated and the
work Involved extensive, and much time and thought has to be
applied to attain the required standard of safety without unnecessary
expense to the owner.
In the smaller houses in multiple occupation an escape
route via the internal staircase is acceptable providing the
staircase is brought to Vi-hour standard of fire resistance. In
the larger multiples an external fire escape may have to be
provided if alternative escape routes cannot be obtained.
External fire escapes have to be purpose made and are consequently
expensive to provide.
In the latter part of the year a Charitable Organisation
interested in the re-housing of problem families for short
periods pending rehabilitation, took possession of a number of
small houses for this purpose on short term leases. Unfortunately,
this organisation acted without any prior consultation
with the Local Authority, as a result of which serious overcrowding
occurred aggravated by the lack of essential facilities,
and in addition to which serious health hazards and fire risks
were created. Consultations eventually took place between
members of the organisation and the Local Authority, as a
result of which alterations were made in the tenancies to
obviate the risks created, and an undertaking was also given
that the Local Authority would be consulted as to the future
user of any premises acquired by them.