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
Lewisham 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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58
Applications for rehousing
The number of cases dealt with by the public health department during the year was as follows :—
Table 30
| West | North | South | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Lewisham borough council housing applications :— Visited | 47 | 49 | 3 | 99 |
| Insanitary conditions found | 2 | 4 | — | 6 |
| (b) London county council housing applications :— Visited | 45 | 117 | 21 | 183 |
| Found overcrowded | 2 | 4 | 11 | 17 |
| (c) Housing applications referred from other authorities :— Visited | 11 | 7 | 5 | 23 |
| Found overcrowded | — | — | — | — |
| (d) Inspected on request of occupier :— Visited | – | – | – | – |
| Found overcrowded | — | — | — | — |
| Total visited | 103 | 173 | 29 | 305 |
| Total overcrowded | 2 | 4 | 11 | 17 |
Housing Act, 1936
Repair of houses (sections 9 and 10)
Under section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, a local authority if
satisfied upon consideration of an official representation, or a report
from any of their officers, or other information, that any house is in
any respect unfit for human habitation, shall, unless satisfied that it is
not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit, serve
upon the person having control of the house a notice requiring him
within a reasonable time to execute the works specified in the notice
and stating that in the opinion of the authority those works will render
the house fit for habitation. In determining whether a house can be
rendered fit for human habitation at a reasonable expense, regard is
had to the estimated cost of the works necessary to render it so fit and
the value which it is estimated the house will have when the works are
completed.
Section 10 of the Act allows the local authority to do the work
required by the notice themselves if the notice has not been complied
with. The expenses incurred by the local authority in executing such
works are recoverable from the person having control of the house.
During the year 44 informal and 15 formal notices were served.
38 properties were repaired by the owners after service of notices and
6 properties were repaired by the Council under section 10 in default
of the owners.