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Occupation of Cellars, &c.
Cellars, &c. newly built not to be let as Dwelling Rooms.
No Cellars, &c. to be let except under certain Conditions.
Act not to come into operation until the Expiration of a certain Time, in case of Cellars, &c. already occupied as Dwellings.
Churchwardens, &c. to give Notice of Enactment.
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LXVII. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful to let or occupy or suffer to be occupied separately as a Dwelling any Vault, Cellar, or underground Room built or rebuilt after the passing of this Act, or which shall not have been so let or occupied before the passing of this Act; and it shall not be lawful to let or continue to let, or to occupy or suffer to be occupied, separately as a Dwelling, any Vault, Cellar, or underground Room whatsoever, unless the same be in every Part thereof at least Seven Feet in Height, measured from the Floor to the Ceiling thereof, nor unless the same be at least Three Feet of its Height above the Surface of the Street or Ground adjoining or nearest to the same, nor unless there be outside of and adjoining the same Vault, Cellar, or Room, and extending along the entire Frontage thereof, and upwards from Six Inches below the Level of the Floor thereof up to the Surface of the said Street or Ground, an open Area of at least Two Feet and Six Inches wide in every Part, nor unless the same be well and effectually drained by means of a Drain the uppermost Part of which is One Foot at least below the Level of the Floor of such Vault, Cellar, or Room, nor unless there be appurtenant to such Vault, Cellar, or Room the Use of a Watercloset or Privy and an Ashpit, furnished with proper Doors and Coverings, kept and provided according to the Provisions of this Act, nor unless the same have a Fireplace with a proper Chimney or Flue, nor unless the same have an external Window of at least Nine Superficial Feet in Area clear of the Sash Frame, and made to open in such Manner as shall be approved by the Surveyor, except in the Case of an inner or back Vault, Cellar, or Room let or occupied along with a front Vault, Cellar, or Room as Part of the same letting or Occupation, in which Case the external Window may be of any Dimensions, not being less than Four Superficial Feet in Area clear of the Sash Frame; and whosoever lets, occupies, or continues to let, or knowingly suffers to be occupied, for Hire or Rent, any Vault, Cellar, or underground Room, contrary to this Act, shall be liable for every such Offence to a Penalty not exceeding Twenty Shillings for every Day during which the same continues to be so let or occupied after Notice in Writing from the Local Board of Health in this Behalf: Provided always, that in any Area adjoining a Vault, Cellar, or underground Room there may be Steps necessary for Access to such Vault, Cellar, or Room, if the same be so placed as not to be over, across, or opposite to the said external Window, and so as to allow between every Part of such Steps and the external Wall of such Vault, Cellar, or Room a clear Space of Six Inches at the least, and that over or across any such Area there may be Steps necessary for Access to any Building above the Vault, Cellar, or Room to which such Area adjoins, if the same be so placed as not to be over, across, or opposite to any such external Window: Provided also, that every Vault, Cellar, or underground Room in which any Person passes the Night shall be deemed to be occupied as a Dwelling within the Meaning of this Act: Provided also, that the Provisions or this Act with respect to the letting and Occupation of Vaults, Cellars, and underground Rooms shall not, so far as the same relate to Vaults, Cellars, and underground Rooms which shall have been let or occupied as Dwellings before the passing of this Act, come into force or operation until the Expiration of One Year from the passing of this Act, nor within any District until the Expiration of Six Months from the Time when this Act shall have been applied thereto; and all Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor shall from Time to Time after the passing of this Act cause public Notice of the Provisions of this Act with respect to the letting and Occupation of Vaults, Cellars, and underground Rooms to be given in such Manner as may appear to them to be best calculated to make the same generally known.
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