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 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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29
HOUSING ACT, 1961
Section 12—Management Code for Houses in Multiple Occupation
After all other measures had failed, six premises were reported to the
Public Health Committee for Management Orders.
Section 14—Power to require work to be done to make good neglect of
proper standards of Management Order under Section 12 has been served
One house was reported to the Public Health Committee. The neglect
was subsequently made good by the owner.
Section 15—Power to require the execution of works of other descriptions,
having regard to the number of persons or households, or both, accommodated
for the time being on the premises
In practice it was often deemed necessary to consider Section 15 action with Section 16 (below). 28 premises were reported to the Public Health Committee for action and the position at the end of the year was as follows:—
| Works Completed | 2 |
| Works in hand | 4 |
| Taken out of multiple occupation | 3 |
| To be taken out of multiple occupation | 1 |
| Persons or households reduced | 3 |
| Re-developed into self-contained units | 1 |
| Vacated | 1 |
| In default (and being followed up) | 5 |
| Service of notices not completed | 8 |
Section 16—Provision of Means of Escape from Fire
Twenty-four premises were reported to the Public Health Committee
and subsequently referred to the London County Council for consideration.
Section 19—Power for the Local Authority to give directions to prevent or
reduce overcrowding in houses in multiple occupation
172 premises, involving 373 separate lettings were reported to the Public
Health Committee and directions were made to prevent overcrowding in
289 lettings and reduce overcrowding in 84. Constant re-visiting following
these directions revealed six contraventions. In 5 of these cases, the overcrowding
was remedied and in the other case the house was acquired by
the Council.
A full report on the housing activities of the Department was contained
in a special report to the Council in January, 1964 and the above details
comprise a brief summary of that report.