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
Deptford 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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28
HOUSING
At the end of 1955 the Council had a total of 830 permanent houses,
maisonettes and flats, a total of 388 temporary houses of various types
and controlled a further 1,267 properties under requisition. The requisitioned
properties housed 1,916 units of tenancy.
During 1955, 30 flats and 4 maisonettes were completed for the Council
and 110 flats and 14 maisonettes were in the course of construction.
During 1955, 3,884 improvements were carried out in 1,204 houses,
somewhat less than last year, and outstanding works at the end of the
year totalled 275.
In the maintenance of existing property the following is a summary of the work done in 1955:— Public Health (London) Act, 1936
| Total number of houses inspected for housing defects | 2,043 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 446 |
| Number of houses repaired or nuisances remedied | 1,204 |
| Overcrowding | |
| Number of individual dwellings overcrowded at the end of the year | 60 |
| Number of families found to be living in overcrowded conditions during the year | 8 |
| Number of families who have obtained alternative accommodation during the year | 30 |
There are many underground rooms throughout the Borough and a
fairly high proportion of them, although used as dwellings, do not conform
in all respects with the statutory requirements and cannot without
major structural alterations be made to do so. Closure is not, however,
practicable in present circumstances and owners have been co-operative
in making these rooms reasonably fit.
Housing Repairs and Rents Act and Increase of Rent
and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts
Fifty-eight applications for Certificates of Disrepair were made during
the year. Forty-five were granted and the remainder were either refused
or the application withdrawn.