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
Kensington 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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| Where a house consists of :— | |
|---|---|
| one room | 2 units |
| two rooms | 3 |
| three rooms | 5 |
| fourrooms | |
| five rooms | 10—with an additional two in respect of each room in excess of five. |
| Where the floor area of a room is :— | |
|---|---|
| 110 sq. ft. or more | 2 units |
| 90 sq. ft. or more, but less than 110 sq. ft | |
| 70 Sq. ft. or more, but less than 90 sq. ft | 1 |
| 50 sq. ft. or more, but less than 70 sq. ft | * .. |
| under 50 sq. ft. | Nil |
This standard applies to every house occupied by the working-classes ; but it does not apply
in any district until the appointed day has been fixed by the Minister of Health.
The appointed day for Kensington was 1st January, 1937.
The overcrowding survey of 1935 revealed in the borough 2,529 overcrowded families. Particulars of the number of overcrowded families rehoused since the survey are as follows :—
| 1936. | 1937. | 1938. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Families. | Persons. | Families. | Persons. | Families. | Persons. | |
| No. of families overcrowded at beginning of year | 2,529 | 11,686 | 2,428 | 11,251 | 2,034 | 9,234 |
| No. of new overcrowded families discovered during the year | 14 | 71* | 56 | 239£ | 68 | 335£ |
| No. of families rehoused during the year | 115 | 606i- | 450 | 2,256£ | 175 | 846£ |
| No. of overcrowded families remaining at end of the year | 2,428 | 11,251 | 2,034 | 9,234 | 1,927 | 8,623 |
In this table children between the ages of one and ten years are counted as half-persons. Infants
tinder one year of aee are not counted.
On 1st January, 1937, the Minister issued a circular (1591) on the question of the action to
be taken by local authorities under the overcrowding provisions of the Housing Act, 1936. The
circular stated, inter alia, that " it is the duty of local authorities to see that existing cases of
overcrowding are abated as soon as possible, and that no new cases arise . . . the discharge of
these duties will call for care and thought in organisation and sympathy and understanding in
administration . . . local authorities have by the Act been given considerable powers to secure
the abatement of overcrowding ; these powers are there in reserve, but they will play no part in
normal administration."
During the year the council found it necessary to institute legal proceedings in respect of four
overcrowded families but in each case the summons was withdrawn as the overcrowding was abated
before the Court hearing.
The following statement is required to be furnished under the Sanitary Officers (London)
Regulations, 1935 :—
The estimated number of families overcrowded at the end of
the year 1,92/ (8,623 units).
The number of new cases of overcrowding reported 68 (335J units).
The number of cases of overcrowding relieved 175 (846£ units).
The number of cases in which dwelling-houses in respect of
which the local authority have taken steps for the abatement
of overcrowding have again become overcrowded ... ... Nil.
As far as Kensington is concerned, section 62 of the Housing Act, 1936, provided that within
six months of 1st July, 1936, every rent book or similar document used in conneccion with a
dwelling-house must contain the following information :—
(1) After the 1st day of January, 1937, an occupier who causes or permits his dwelling
to be overcrowded is liable to prosecution for an offence under the Housing Act, 1936,
and, if convicted, to a fine not exceeding five pounds. Any part of a house which
is occupied by a separate family is a " dwelling."