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against the proprietor for keeping a common lodging house without
being registered as such. The defendant did not appear, and
the case was adjourned for a fortnight. At the second hearing,
the magistrates, after hearing evidence, decided to convict,
and fined him. The proprietor then made application
for the house to be placed on the register for common
lodging houses, but, before this could be done, structural alterations
were necessary to provide proper light and ventilation for
the premises. After considerable delay these were executed, and,
on December 10th, the part of the building situated in Hardy
Road was registered.
Overcrowding.
Complaints, some anonymous, were received, alleging overcrowding.
Careful observations were continually made of the premises,
and night visits paid frequently.
In seven instances notices were served for the abatement of
the nuisance, 2 respecting workrooms, and 5 dwelling houses.
Complaints are from time to time being received in respect
to certain property in South Wimbledon, which is modern, well
built, with good sanitary arrangements, and provided with baths,
but, owing to the want of cleanliness on the part of the tenants,
who are constantly changing, the houses are usually in an unwholesome
condition.
Housing
of the
Working
Classes
Act, 1890.
It will be remembered that proceedings were taken last year
against the owners of the property, Nos. 2 to 11, Thornton Road,
and Nos. 2 to 14, South Place, application being made to the
magistrates for a closing order, as the owners had not complied
with the notice requiring them to make the said premises fit for
human habitation.
When the counsel for the defendants undertook that the
houses should be made habitable, the Bench adjourned the summons
for three months for this to be done. The period elapsed,
but no steps were taken to carry out any alterations to the premises,
and on January 23rd the solicitors for the defendant wrote
asking if the Council would agree to a further adjournment of
three months, in order that the necessary arrangements might be
made by them for pulling down and rebuilding the property.
This period was again extended in May, and, from time to time
since. The houses, with two exceptions, are now unoccupied, the
sites of several cleared and new buildings erected.