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
Battersea 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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50
Housing Accommodation Applications.
All applications made to the Council are normally dealt with by
the Housing Manager, who refers to me those cases in which the application
is based wholly or partly on medical grounds. He also refers to
me certain cases in which some special feature (e.g., fitness of basement
rooms, etc.) is involved.
During the year 464 cases were so referred, and the following recommendations were made on them:—
| Rehousing essential | 106 |
| „ advisable | 124 |
| No recommendation | 234 |
Eighty-nine families, in respect of which "essential" recommendations
had been given in 1947 and 1948 were rehoused in 1948.
The London County Council also refer cases in which there appears
to be overcrowding, for the submission, in appropriate cases, of an
"orange form.'' Overcrowding was found to exist in 70 instances.
The London County Council also notify cases in which the application
alleges sanitary defects. The houses are inspected and action to
secure the remedy of any defects found is taken.
Increase of Rent, &c., Acts.
Six certificates that houses or parts thereof were not in a reasonable
state of repair were issued to tenants.
Four reports that houses or parts thereof were in a reasonable state
of repair were issued to landlords.
| Number of new dwellings (including prefabricated bungalows), erected or re-erected | 182 | |
| Number of houses demolished:— | ||
| In pursuance of clearance orders | 27 | |
| In pursuance of demolition orders | — | |
| In pursuance of undertakings to demolish | 1 | 28 |
| Number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health and Housing Acts) | 6,974 | |
| Number of inspections made for that purpose | 34,908 | |
| Number of houses at which defects found:— | ||
| Dealt with under Housing Act (informally) | 23 | |
| Dealt with under Public Health (London), Act | 3,331 | |
| 3,354 | ||
| Number of houses where defects remedied:- | ||
| As result of action under Housing Act | 1 | |
| As result of action under P.H. Act | 3,500* | |
| 3,501 | ||
| Number of houses in respect of which demolition orders were made | Nil | |
| Number of underground rooms in respect of which closing orders were made | 1 | |
| Number of closing orders determined | Nil | |
| * Representing 4,506 notices complied with. In 26 of these cases the Council carried out the work in default of the owner. | ||