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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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45
Overcrowding.
Eleven cases of overcrowding creating offences against the provisions
of Section 78 of the Housing Act, 1957, were investigated.
By the end of the year the overcrowding had been abated in 5 of these
cases—4 after informal action, and 1 following the service of a notice
under Section 78 on the landlord.
Certificates of Disrepair.
Rent Act, 1957.
The following table shows the work carried out during the year connection with Certificates of Disrepair:—
| Applications for Certificates of Disrepair (Form I) received | 103 |
| Decisions to issue Certificates of Disrepair (Form J) | 104 |
| Undertakings received from landlords (Form K) | 83 |
| Undertakings received from landlords (Form K) accepted | 61 |
| Certificates of Disrepair (Form L) issued | 50 |
| Certificates of Disrepair refused | 8 |
| Applications for cancellation of Certificates of Disrepair (Form M) received | 82 |
| Cancellations of Certificates of Disrepair (Form N) issued | 57 |
| Applications for Certificates re undertakings (Form O) | |
| received from landlords | 133 |
| Applications for Certificates re undertakings (Form O) | |
| received from tenants | 41 |
| Certificates re undertakings (Form P) issued to landlords | 134 |
| Certificates re undertakings (Form P) issued to tenants | 42 |
in comparison with 1958, the volume of work decreased. This
was due to a decline in applications by tenants for Certificates of
Diserpair from 350 in 1958 to 103 in 1959. There was, however, an
increase in the number of applications from landlords for certificates
relating to undertakings they had given to tenants.
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. These cases
include applications for transfer from Council tenants and licensees
of requisitioned premises. He also refers certain cases in which some
special feature is involved (e.g., fitness of basement rooms).
During 1959 a total of 351 cases were dealt with on the grounds
of ill-health or unsuitable accommodation. The maximum number of
points on medical grounds other than pulmonary tuberculosis were
allocated to 7 applications and 8 cases were referred to the Housing
Committee for special consideration on these grounds. In 11 cases the
maximum points were given for pulmonary tuberculosis, two of these
being referred to the Housing Committee for special consideration as
the accommodation was inadequate. In 20 cases of transfer applications,
rehousing was recommended as essential on medical grounds.
The London County Council notify cases in which the application
to that Council alleges sanitary defects. The houses are inspected, and
action to secure the remedy of any defects found is taken.