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
Stepney 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Statistic*. I.—Inspection of dwelling houses during the year:—
| (1) (a) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 21,140 |
| (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose | 28,646 |
| (2) (a) Number of dwelling houses (included under sub-head (1) above) which were inspected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 | 798 |
| (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose | 1,903 |
| (3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation | - |
| (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 | 12,503 |
| 11.—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 | 6,140 |
| III.—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 | - |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices :— | |
| (a) By owners | - |
| (b) By local authority in default of owners | - |
| (b) Proceedings under Public Health Acts:— | |
| (1) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring defects to be remedied | 11,960 |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal notices:— | |
| (a) By owners | 5,820 |
| (b) By local authority in default of owners | - |
| (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 | - |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Order | - |
The Housing Committee is fully alive to the importance of the Housing
question in the Borough. They meet monthly and at such other times as may
be necessary. Rent is a very serious and important item in considering the
re-housing of the people and the question of economic rents will have to be
considered.
In making a survey of the housing problem, attention has been drawn by
the Government and other departments to the desirability of speeding up the
housing schemes. With regard to our own particular Borough one has to face
present-day facts. There is a great tendency for Stepney to become more
industrialised year by year. Changes are always going on whereby small
dwelling houses are being acquired by firms for the extension of their works
These firms either re-house the tenants displaced or compensate them.