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
Deptford 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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28
HOUSING
At the end of 1956 the Council had a total of 950 permanent houses,
maisonettes and flats, a total of 344 temporary houses of various types
and controlled a further 739 properties under requisition. The requisitioned
properties housed 1,018 units of tenancy.
During the year, 110 flats and 10 maisonettes were completed for the
Council and 55 flats were in the course of construction.
Also, 3,030 improvements were carried out in 1,079 houses, somewhat
less than last year, and outstanding works at the end of the year totalled
202.
Apart from the flats, etc., completed by the Council 133 flats were
completed by the London County Council, and 10 houses, 14
maisonettes and 12 flats were completed by private owners.
In the maintenance of existing property the following is a summary of
the work done in 1956:—
Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
| Total number of houses inspected for housing defects | 2,369 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | 403 |
| Number of houses repaired or nuisances remedied | 1,079 |
Overcrowding.
| Number of individual dwellings overcrowded at the end of the year | 47 |
| Number of families found to be living in overcrowded conditions during the year | 11 |
| Number of families who have obtained alternative accommodation during the year | 24 |
There are many underground rooms throughout the Borough and a
fairly high proportion of them, although used as dwellings, do not conform
in all respects with the statutory requirements and cannot without
major structural alterations be made to do so. Closure is not, however,
practicable in present circumstances and owners have been co-operative
in making these rooms reasonably fit.
Housing Repairs and Rents Act and Increase of Rent
and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts
Twenty-four applications for Certificates of Disrepair were made during
the year. Nineteen were granted and the remainder were either refused
or the application withdrawn.