London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Holborn 1925

Report for the year 1925 of the Medical Officer of Health

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116
An opportunity occurred for a small scheme on these lines by the acquisition
of three adjoining tenement houses in Betterton Street, together with the site
of the fourth house which had already been demolished. The houses were not
suitable for reconstruction as the existing walls were not in the required positions
nor of the required thickness or condition. The Council decided to acquire the
vacant site and the three houses for demolition and the construction of selfccntained
flats. The scheme entails the displacement of about fifty persons
occupying the three houses but the fifteen self-contained flats to be provided will
probably provide accommodation for seventy persons, so that, in addition to
securing much improved housing accommodation, a larger number of residents
will be provided for.

HOUSING CONDITIONS. Statistics. Year Ended 31st December, 1925. 1.—GENERAL.

(1) Estimated population... ... ...43,315
(2) General death rate... ... ...12.51
(3) Death-rate from tuberculosis (all forms)... ... ...1.24
(4) Infantile mortality rate... ... ...63
*(5) Number of buildings containing dwellings(Census, 1921)3,473
†(6) Number of separate dwellings(Census, 1921)7,202
‡(6a) Number of working-class tenements(Census, 1921)8,571
(7) Number of new working-class houses erected1 Block (37 tenements)

2.—UNFIT DWELLING-HOUSES. I.—INSPECTION.

(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts)880§
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which were inspected and recorded under the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 19107||
(3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitationnil
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-heading) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation606

II.—REMEDY OF DEFECTS WITHOUT SERVICE OF FORMAL NOTICES.
Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in consequence
of informal action by the Local Authority or their officers
*"Buildings."—A structure wholly detached or separated from another by a party wall,
e.g., a block of flats is one building.
†" Separate dwelling," i.e., having separate access to street or common landing or
staircase, e.g., each flat in a block is a separate dwelling, but a private house not structurally
divided is a single unit whether occupied by one or more families.
‡" Working-class tenements," i.e., separate occupations of one, two, three or four rooms
only.
§ Practically all these houses were tenement houses containing a number of tenements.
||A11 the more insanitary houses are always annually inspected, although only 7 last year
were formally recorded under the above Regulations.