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(43)
upon finding any tradesman refusing to allow its
removal, should give immediate information to the
Sanitary Inspector, and he, on at once visiting and
finding this objectionable matter not removed as
required, would be thus enabled to report to the
Council with a view to proceedings being taken
against the offenders.
CELLAR DWELLINGS.
In the neighbourhood of South Kilburn there
are a considerable number of houses of which the
basement floor does not comply with the definitions
of a cellar dwelling, as laid down by the statute,
i.e., Unless the following requisitions are complied
with; unless the ceiling of room is at least three feet
above the surface of ground or street adjoining;
unless there is an open area extending along the
entire frontage at least 2 feet 6 inches wide. There
are also several other clauses in the statute which in
some instances preclude the rooms being used as a
dwelling. The greater number are located under
shops, and are often let separate as a living and
sleeping room, and a constant watch has to be kept,
as the shops are often changing hands, and the new
tenant lets the basement floor, ignorant of the fact
that it is illegal to so let or occupy.
These rooms are totally unfit for occupation,
being dark and damp, and without efficient means of
ventilation, it being necessary in some instances to