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
Finsbury 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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Repair of Houses under the Housing Acts:
No representations were made during 1963.
Unfit Houses and Parts of Houses:
There are still many unfit houses and parts of houses in the Borough
that cannot be repaired at reasonable cost, although their number is
steadily diminishing. Owing to the difficulties in relation to rehousing,
it has not been practicable to secure demolition or closure of
any but those in the worst condition.
From time to time it has become necessary to take action to secure
closure of a few individual rooms (other than basements) in houses where
these could not be made fit at a reasonable cost.
Steps have been taken to secure closure of unsatisfactory basement
rooms,usually when these have become vacant or been known to be about
to become vacant
The table appended summarises the action taken during 1963 and indicates the overall position at the end of the year:
| Closing and Demolition Orders: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Houses | Basement Rooms | Other Parts | |
| No. of representations made | |||
| No. still under consideration | 15 | ||
| Total No. of undertakings accepted | - | - | - |
| Demolition Orders made | 1 | - | |
| Such properties since demolished | - | ||
| Closing Orders made | 5 | 1 | |
| Such properties later demolished | 1 | 2 | - |
| Orders later determined | 6 | ||
| Total No. of representations lapsed or no action taken | _ | 1 | - |
| Total No. of properties still subject to | |||
| (a) Demolition Orders | 1 | - | - |
| (b) Closing Orders | 48 | 124 | 5 |
The tabular statement prepared in accordance with the Housing Consolidated Regulations 1925-32 is as follows:-
| No. of houses considered on inspection to be unfit for human habitation | 4 | |
| No. of houses wherein defects were remedied by informal action | - | |
| No. of representations made with a view to:- | ||
| (a) serving notices requiring the execution of work | - | |
| (b) making demolition or closing orders | 4 | |
| No. of notices served requiring the execution of repairs | - | |
| No. of houses rendered fit after service of notice | - | |
| No. of demolition or closing orders made | 7* | |
| No. of houses in respect of which undertakings were accepted | - | |
| No. of houses demolished (* including premises represented prior to 1.1.63). | ||