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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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24
HOUSING
At the end of 1957 the Council had a total of 970 permanent houses,
maisonettes and flats, a total of 314 temporary houses of various types
and controlled a further 517 properties under requisition. The requisitioned
properties housed 786 units of tenancy.
During the year, 15 flats and 4 maisonettes were completed for the
Council.
Also, 2,567 improvements were carried out in 807 houses, somewhat
less than last year, and outstanding works at the end of the year totalled
219.
Apart from the flats, etc., completed by the Council 188 flats were
completed by the London County Council, and 9 houses, 2
maisonettes and 17 flats were completed by private owners.
In the maintenance of existing property the following is a summary of the work done in 1957:— Public Health (London) Act, 1936
| Total number of houses inspected for housing defects | 1,381 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 256 |
| Number of houses repaired or nuisances remedied | 807 |
Overcrowding
| Number of individual dwellings overcrowded at the end of the year | 50 |
| Number of families found to be living in overcrowded conditions during the year | 3 |
| Number of families who have obtained alternative accommodation during the year | — |
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.
Rent Act, 1957, and
Housing Repairs and Rents Act and Increase of Rent
and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts
One hundred and sixty-two applications for Certificates of Disrepair
were made during the year. One hundred and fifty-three were granted
and the remainder were either refused or the application withdrawn.