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1, 2, 3 and 4, Providence Council, and all the properties were finally demolished
Place, W.5. and the site cleared during 1962. This site now forms
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and part of a much larger area known as the Grove Develop-
10, Grove Cottages, W.5. ment Area.
Houses in Multiple Occupation—Housing Act, 1961
This important aspect of housing work received active consideration by the Council
in 1962, and after much discussion and consultation with other authorities in
Middlesex a standard suitable for use in connection with the application of Section 15
of the Act, was adopted by the Council. The extent of the problem of multiple occupation
in the Borough is as yet not fully measured, but it is known that there are many
houses, especially those of the larger and older types, where several families reside,
without adequate management and amenities. The one great difficulty which prevents
a serious and sustained attack on the problem is a shortage of staff, but as soon as
this is brought up to the proper establishment it is intended to commence by carrying
out a survey in a known affected area, and to deal with other particular houses where
conditions are known to be unsatisfactory. The standard to be applied in the use of
Section 15 is in respect of the provision of natural and artificial lighting, ventilation,
water supply, personal washing facilities, drainage and sanitary conveniences, facilities
for the storage, preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste
water, and installations for space heating or for the use of space heating appliances.
This standard, which was approved and adopted by the Council in December, is
as follows:—
HOUSING ACT 1961—SECTION 15
General Standards of accommodation for houses to which
Section 15 of the Housing Act applies
1. Natural Lighting
Every room used or intended to be used for living or sleeping purposes shall be
provided with one or more windows in the external walls of the building. Such windows
to have an aggregate area of glass amounting to not less than one-tenth of the
area of the floor of the room.
Every kitchen, scullery, bathroom, water closet, staircase, landing, corridor and
passage where the construction of the building so permits shall be provided with one
or more windows in the external walls in order to provide natural lighting therefor.
2. Artificial Lighting
Every living and sleeping room and every kitchen, scullery, bathroom, water
closet, staircase, landing, corridor and passage shall be provided with artificial
lighting and the means of operating such lighting shall be available in respect of
each of the said rooms to all persons using such premises.
3. Ventilation
Every living and sleeping room and every kitchen, scullery, bathroom and water
closet shall be provided with one or more windows capable of being opened directly
into the air outside the building so as to provide adequate means of natural ventilation.
In the case of living and sleeping rooms the windows shall be capable of being
opened for an area equal to not less than one-twentieth of the floor area of the
room.
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