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
Hammersmith 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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16
The Council acts as landlords for 3,781 principal tenants.
The properties managed include houses, flats, pre-fabs and
requisitioned accommodation.
At the end of the year there were 5,411 applicants for
accommodation on the Borough Council's list awaiting rehousing.
No points scheme is used to assess these applicants. Their need
according to bedroom deficiency, ill-health, insanitary conditions,
overcrowding and separation of families is measured and used
as a guide in allocating houses.
The following table illustrates the progress that is being made:—
| 1. | Number of families rehoused by the Borough Council in new flats since the war | 793 |
| 2. | Number of families rehoused by the Borough Council in rebuilt houses since the war | 30 |
| 3. | Number of families rehoused by the Borough Council in prefabricated dwellings since the war | 80 |
| 4. | Number of Borough Council licensees living in requisitioned properties at the end of the year | 1628 |
Overcrowding (Section 61).
Four licences were granted under Section 61 of the Housing
Act, 1936, authorising a number of persons in excess of the permitted
number as specified in the licence to sleep in a house.
Slum Clearance.
The properties Nos. 1-10, Latimer Mews, in respect of which
a compulsory purchase order was confirmed by the Minister in
May, 1952, have now been vacated and demolition of the
premises is completed.
Building Licences.
The arrangements existing for dealing with applicants for
building licences have continued in operation throughout the
year. The Sanitary Inspectors have continued to investigate and
report upon all applications.
Applications received 41
Licences issued 31
Pending 10
The amount of work which could be carried out to residential
property during the year without licence was limited to £500.