London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
This page requires JavaScript
The following table is included in this Report in accordance with the request contained in the letter from the Ministry of Health, dated 24th June, 1932, and relating to contents of annual reports of Medical Officers of Health:—
| 1. | Inspection of Dwelling-houses during the year:— (1) (a) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 355 |
| (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose | 625 | |
| (2) (a) Number of dwelling-houses (included under sub-head (1) above) which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 | 179 | |
| (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose | 456 | |
| (3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation | 3 | |
| (4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-head) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation | 8 | |
| 2. | Remedy of Defects during the Year without Service of formal Notices:— | |
| Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or their officers | 125 | |
| 3. | Action under Statutory Powers during the Year:— A.—Proceedings under sections 17, 18 and 23 of the Housing Act, 1930: | |
| (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs | Nil. | |
| (2) Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices:— | ||
| (a) By owners | Nil. | |
| (b) By local authority in default of owners................ | Nil. | |
| B.—Proceedings under Public Health Acts: | ||
| (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring defects to be remedied | 21 | |
| (2) Number of dwelling-houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal notices:— | ||
| (a) By owners | 21 | |
| (b) By local authority in default of owners | Nil. | |
| C.—Proceedings under sections 19 and 21 of the Housing Act, 1930: | ||
| (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made | Nil. | |
| (2) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders | Nil. | |
| D.—Proceedings under section 20 of the Housing Act, 1930: | ||
| (1) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were made | Nil. | |
| (2) Number of separate tenements or underground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were determined, the tenement or room having been rendered fit | Nil. |
Common Lodging House, 116, Middlesex Street.—This is the only common lodging
house in the City and is known as the "Salvation Army Working Men's Hotel and Shelter."
It was opened on the 7th February, 1906. Periodical inspections are made. The requirements
of this Authority are always complied with, and the premises are well kept and maintained
in a generally satisfactory condition.
Neglect to comply with Water-closet Bye-laws.—No instance of neglect in this respect has
occurred during the year under review.
Drainage Plans.—In the course of the year 186 plans were submitted with regard to
proposed reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 172 were approved, 13 revised and approved, and 1 not approved.
Street Gullies.—The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for those formerly
existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of offensive smells arising
from these appliances, especially in warm weather. In some cases this nuisance was doubtless
due to want of flushing, but in the majority faulty construction was the cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years past, and
his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-to-date design will,
I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
12