London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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the decision of the Council to issue a certificate, and
a tenant can appeal against their refusal to issue one.
Similarly, if a landlord has applied to the Council for
cancellation, on the ground that he has remedied the
defects, he can appeal to the county court against their
refusal to cancel} conversely, if the Council decide to
cancel, in spite of the tenant's objection, the tenant
can appeal to the county court.
The following is a summary of the action taken under the Rent Act, 1957, during 1959:-
| PART I - Applications for Certificates of Disrepair | |
| Number of applications for certificates | 25 |
| Number of decisions not to issue certificates | 1 |
| Number of decisions to issue certificates - | |
| (a) in respect of some but not all defects | 17 |
| (b) in respect of all defects | 7 |
| Number of undertakings given by landlords | 13 |
| Number of undertakings refused by Council | |
| Number of certificates issued | 13 |
| PART II - Applications for Cancellation of Certificates | |
| Applications by landlords to Council for cancellation of certificates | 16 |
| Objections by tenants to cancellation of certificates upheld | 5 |
| Certificates cancelled | 11 |
Houses in Multiple Occupation, (including hostels)
Under Sections 36 and 90 of the Housing Act, 1957, which
apply to any house or part of a house "which is let in lodgings or
occupied by members of more than one family", power is given to the
Council to require adequate provision of the following services and
amenities
Natural lighting;
Ventilation;
Water supply;
Drainage and sanitary conveniences;
Facilities for storage, preparation and cooking of
food, and for the disposal of waste water;
Sleeping room accommodation.
Section 36 enables the Council to take action if in their opinion
the premises are so defective in the matters set out above as not to be
reasonably suitable for the number of persons or households in occupation.
In such cases they may serve a notice on the person in control: (a) specifying
the works required to render the premises reasonably suitable for occupation
by those persons or households; (b) requiring the person in control, in
default of executing these works within the prescribed period, to take such
steps as are reasonably open to him (including, if necessary, the taking of
legal proceedings) for securing a reduction in the number of persons
accommodated or the number of households, or both, as specified in the notice.
Thus, where a notice is served, a choice is given, either to carry
out the specified works, or, alternatively, to reduce the intensity of
occupation of the house, in which case possession of the house or parts of
the house can be obtained by an owner notwithstanding the Rents Acts.
Under Section 90, the Council may serve a notice on the occupier,
or the person having the control and management of a house or part of a
house, where excessive numbers of persons are accommodated, specifying in