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
Tottenham 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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Table I.
| Where a house consists of— | The permitted number of persons is— |
|---|---|
| 2 | |
| (6) Two rooms | 3 |
| (c) Three rooms | 5 |
| 7½ | |
| (e) Five rooms or more | 10 with an additional 2 in respect of each room in excess of five. |
Table II.
| Where a room in a house has a floor area of— | ||
|---|---|---|
| 110 sq. ft. or more | 2 (persons) | |
| 90 sq. ft. or more, but less than 110 | 1½ | |
| 70 sq. ft. or more, but less than 90 | 1 | |
| (d) | 50 sq. ft. or more, but less than 70 | ½ |
| Under 50 sq. ft. | Nil. | |
After a day to be appointed by the Minister of Health, it will be
illegal for the occupier or landlord to permit a dwelling-house to be
overcrowded. "Dwelling-house" is defined as "any premises used as a
separate dwelling by members of the working classes."
Six months after the appointed day, every rent book shall contain a
summary of the provisions of the Act with regard to overcrowding, and
a statement of the permitted number of persons in relation to the house.
It shall be the duty of the Council, on application by the owner or occupier,
to supply the applicant in writing with the permitted number.
The Survey was commenced in November 1935, and completed in
February 1936. In order to apply Table II, 19,341 rooms were measured.
30,059 premises, accommodating 40,644 families, were visited. These
figures do not include the 250 houses already mentioned as being within
Clearance Areas. This number represents the whole of the working-class
houses in the district, and of the 40,644 families, 1,322, or 3.2 per cent,
were overcrowded.