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15
" V\ hether a house is dangerous to health mainly, depends upon—
(а) Site and surroundings.
(б) Construction.
(e) Age and general want of repair.
(d) Nuisances.
(a) Site.
A dwelling-house built in a hollow or in a situation not admitting
effectual drainage, or exposed to malarious influences, or built in a manner or
on soil which causes or permits the air to be contaminated by injurious gases,
might be properly represented under section 30 of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890.
"The fact that a dwelling-house is built on a site so surrounded by
buildings that access of sufficient light and air is impossible, would in our
opinion be a good ground for representation.
(b) Construction.
" Under this head would be classed original defect of plan; for example, a
dwelling-house improperly ventilated or lighted, or with the closet and dustbin
so situated as to cause nuisance within the house.
"Any condition which results in permanent dampness.
•Such faulty construction of chimney flues as permits products of combustion
from adjoining premises to permanently contaminate the air of
living-rooms.
(e) Age and general ivant of repair.
"This, when it reaches a degree of dilapidation, is obviously a just cause
for representation.
(d) Nuisances.
" Bad drainage, faulty closets, tilth per se, &c., are in our opinion grounds
for action rather under the Nuisances Removal and Sanitary Acts, but when
affecting a whole dwelling-house or when combined with faults of site and construction
and general want of repair, they justify action also under the Housing
of the Working Classes Act.
" In all the above cases tlic question of ' degree ' comes in ; it is, indeed, this
question of degree that renders precise definition impossible ; general principles
can alone be laid down.'
After the report had been received, and considered, the
Conference passed a vote of thanks to the Medical Officer of
Health, for the report after which the Conference closed without
having come to a " common understanding as to the conditions
or defects which would render a house, either permanently
or temporarily so dangerous to health, as to be unfit
for human habitation within the meaning of the Act."
So that after all the discussion about the matter it is quite
evident that each particular house must be taken 011 its merits
as to its being in a state unfit for human habitation.