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
Wandsworth 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1954
Closing Orders (underground rooms)
| Number of rooms found to be unfit for habitation | 23 |
| Number closed or modified occupation approved | 22 |
| Number of Closing Orders determined | Nil |
| Slum Clearance | |
| Number of houses included in representations under Section 25 of the Housing Act 1936 | 69 |
| Number of houses demolished following such action | 23 |
| Overcrowding | |
| Number of families found to be living in overcrowded conditions | 87 |
| Number of overcrowded families who have obtained alternative accommodation | 103 |
| New Accommodation | |
| Number of dwellings erected by the borough council during the year | 777 |
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954
This Act came into operation on the 30th August, 1954, "to make
further provision for the clearance and redevelopment of areas of
unfit housing accommodation, and for securing or promoting the
reconditioning or maintenance of houses; and otherwise to amend
the enactments relating to housing, the exercise of certain powers
relating to land, and rent control." Part II of the Act, inter alia,
deals with certain amendments of the Rent Acts, and sets forth the
conditions under which a landlord may recover from the tenants a
repairs increase in excess of the normal rent. Under Sections 25-30
conditions are also laid down for the recovery of repairs increase by
the tenant. If a tenant considers that his premises are not in good
repair, or not reasonably suitable for occupation he can apply to the
Local Authority for a Certificate of Disrepair. If this is granted, and
the tenant has served a copy of the certificate on the landlord and his
agent, then so long as the certificate is in force no sum is recoverable
by way of repairs increase in respect of the premises.
These sections are administered by the Public Health Department
and 202 applications were received up to the end of the year for
Certificates of Disrepair.
(a) One hundred and ninety-seven Certificates of Disrepair were
granted;
(b) Four Applications were withdrawn at the request of the tenants;
(c) One Application was not granted as the premises were found
to be in good repair and reasonably suitable for occupation.
Nineteen Applications were received for revocation of Certificates
of Disrepair and these were granted.