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102
These house to house inspections are of the greatest
value and marked improvements in the houses inspected
have resulted. The inspections are made under the
Public Health and Housing Acts, the Housing (Consolidated)
Regulations, 1925 and the London County Council
Byelaws with respect to Houses Divided into Separate
Tenements, 1925 and 1931. As this work has progressed
more and more, better co-operation has been attained
between the Public Health Department, owners and
occupiers.
Many difficulties and misunderstandings have arisen
in the course of the work as the byelaws are somewhat
complicated and difficult to administer, but consultations
between the owners and the staff have had good results
in dealing with them.
Some owners object to their houses being registered
as "Lodging Houses", apparently because they are of
opinion that the registration lowers the value of the
property and they also dislike the necessity for annual
cleansing which is laid down in the byelaws A few
owners confuse the terms "Lodging House" and "Common
Lodging House" and withdraw their objections
when the difference is explained.
The majority of the owners offer no objection to
registration and a number of those who originally
objected now welcome registration.
Under the combined effect of the Public Health and
Housing Acts and the London County Council Byelaws
the responsibility for maintaining lodging houses in a
good state of repair, free from nuisance and in a cleanly
condition is divided between owners, te nants and lodgers
and the Public Health Department have insisted on all
three parties carrying out their respective duties.
Owners, with few exceptions, have given much
assistance.
Some of the houses reflect great credit on the owners
and occupants but the byelaws are extremely useful in
dealing with owners who neglect their propertv and
careless, dirty and destructive tenants.