HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT, 1890. CHAPTER 70. SUBJECT SUMMARY OF SECTIONS. Definitions, secs. 2, 29, 53, 92, 93, and Schedule I. Part I (secs. 1-28). Clearing large slums. How to secure action being taken, secs. 4, 5, 10, 13, 16. Purchase of the necessary property, secs. 20, 21, 22, 23, and How to get the money, secs. 24, 25. Replacement of dwellings demolished, secs. II, 23; also Part Part II (secs. 28-52). Clearing of (1) unhealthy houses, secs. 32, 33, How to get the money, secs. 42, 43, 44. Part III. How to get more Workmen's Dwellings. Procedure, secs. 54, 55 (part); also sec. 2 of Act of 1900. Power to get land for sites, secs. 57 and 60; also sec. I of Act of 1900; also Part IV, sec. 74. Purchase price of land, sec. 7, Act of 1900. Power to let land on lease to companies, builders, and others, sec. 5, Act of 1900. Power to build new dwellings and fit them up for occupation, sec. 59. Power to buy and adapt existing dwellings, sec. 58. How to get the money-Councils, secs. 65, 66, also sec. 3, Act of Management of Dwellings, secs. 61 to 64, 69, 70, 71; also Powers of Parish Council, sec. 6, Act of 1900. Part IV. General. Low-rented dwellings must be sanitary, sec. 75. Procedure (Parts I and II), secs. 72, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91. Part V (secs. 94-97) applies the Act to Scotland. Part VI (secs. 98, 101) applies it to Ireland. Part VII (secs. 102, 103), deals with repeal and temporary provisions. HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT, 1890. N.B.-The Headings and the Notes in Italics are NOT part of the Text. HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT, 1890. CHAPTER 70. An Act to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings, and the Housing of the Working Classes. [18th August, 1890]. BE it E it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1. This Act may be cited as the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890. [There is no definition of the " Working Classes," and the term in practice receives a very liberal interpretation]. PART I. UNHEALTHY AREAS. Application of Part I. The districts to which this part of the Act applies are the administrative County of London exclusive of the City; the City of London; and boroughs and other urban districts outside London (ss. 3, 92, 93, and Sch. I.; 56 and 57 Vict. c. 73, s. 21); and the Local Authorities for carrying Part I. into execution are the Councils of the respective districts (s. 92, and Sch. I.; 56 and 57 Vict. c. 73, s. 21; 60 and 61 Vict. 4. cxxxiii., ss. 5, 7). 2. In this part of this Act Definitions. The expression "this part of this Act" includes any confirming Act, and as respects the County of London and City of London, the Nuisances and in the case of any of the above-mentioned areas, includes any local Act which contains any provisions with respect to nuisances in that area. 3. This part of this Act shall not apply to rural sanitary districts. What is an unhealthy area? 4. Where an official representation [secs. 5, 16, and 79 (2)] as hereinafter mentioned is made to the local authority that within a certain area in the district of such authority either- (a) any houses, courts, or alleys are unfit for human habitation, or (b) the narrowness, closeness, and bad arrangement, or the bad condition of the streets and houses or groups of houses within such area, or the want of light, air, ventilation, or proper conveniences, or any other sanitary defects, or one or more of such causes, are dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants either of the buildings in the said area or of the neighbouring buildings; and that the evils connected with such houses, courts, or alleys, and the sanitary defects in such area cannot be effectually remedied otherwise than by an improvement scheme for the rearrangement and reconstruction of the streets and houses within such area, or of some of such streets or houses, the local authority shall take such representation into their consideration, and if satisfied of the truth thereof, and of the sufficiency of their resources, shall pass a resolution to the effect that such area is an unhealthy area, and that an improvement scheme ought to be made in respect of such area, and after passing such resolution they shall forthwith proceed to make a scheme for the improvement of such area. Provided always, that any number of such areas may be included in one improvement scheme. [The authority must consider the representation, and must pass a resolution that the area is unhealthy, and must proceed with a scheme if satisfied that their borrowing powers are sufficient and that the representation is true, but no power is given definitely to anyone to compel them to do any of these things if they refuse. See, however, Article 23, Schedule II. [In the case of less than ten houses, see sec. 72; and in London cases, see secs. 39 and 73 (1) b]. [In the case of doubt as to whether an area in London should be dealt with under Part I or II, see sec. 73] Official representation by medical officer of health. 5.-(1) An official representation for the purposes of this part of this Act shall mean a representation made to the local authority by the medical officer of health of that authority, and in London made either by such officer or by any medical officer of health in London. [Medical officers of borough councils may make representations direct to the London County Council]. How twelve ratepayers or two justices may compel the council to deal with an area. (2) A medical officer of health shall make such representation whenever he sees cause to make the same; and if two or more justices of the peace acting within the district for which he acts as medical officer of health, or twelve or more persons liable to be rated to the local rate complain to him of the unhealthiness of any area within such district, it shall be the duty of the medical officer of health forthwith to inspect such area, and to make an official representation stating the facts of the case, and whether in his opinion the said area or any part thereof is an unhealthy area or is not an unhealthy area. [The representation should be in writing, and might follow the words of sec. 4.] Improvement scheme. 6. (1) The improvement scheme of a local authority shall be accompanied by maps, particulars, and estimates, and (a) may exclude any part of the area in respect of which an official representation is made, or include any neighbouring lands, if the local authority are of opinion that such exclusion is expedient or inclusion is necessary for making their scheme efficient for sanitary purposes; [Lands which do not form part of the unhealthy area may be taken compulsorily in order to make the scheme efficient, but the compensation will be more generous than for lands in the unhealthy area, and they should be shown separately on the plans]. |