VICTORIAN HOUSING STANDARDS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 November 1939, Page 2

VICTORIAN HOUSING STANDARDS

revealing investigation MELBOURNE, Oct. IS. Every house in Victoria must have a bathroom and a wash-house. This is one of the standards set up In new housing regulations which were approved by the Executive Council this week. The regulations are the result of investigations by the Housing and Slum Abolition Board. They will apply throughout the State to every house, whether erected before or after the regulations come into force. The board inspected 7330 houses and found that 32 per cent, were defective in natural lighting; 38 per cent, were badly ventilated; 72 per cent, had unsound floors; 38 per cent, were infested with vermin or rats; 33 per cent, were without baths; 86 per cent, were without kitchen sinks; more than one-third had only the obsolete colonial oven for cooking. The regulations, under which the. Housing Commission may declare a house unfit for habitation, will operate from a date to be fixed by the Governor-in-Council. The commission may declare unfit for habitation any house which does not comply with any of the regulations, including the following: A house shall be situated on land which is not liable to be flooded; a house shall not be situated so as to face a street less than 25ft. wide; a house shall not be situated nearer than 25ft. to a stable or be attached to or built over a stable;