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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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13
To make the above figures realistic it should be pointed out
that the figures for those rehoused are extremely unlikely to be
from recommendations of the same year. Nevertheless, the seriousness
of the housing position can be measured by the facts as
shown by the figures.
Of 1,935 certifications of overcrowding in ten years only 741
were rehoused. It is a fair deduction that most, if not all, of the
remaining 1,194 families remain in their overcrowded conditions.
Permanent Estates.
During the year both the Borough Council and the London
County Council were still engaged in providing accommodation
for those in the greatest need, and whilst no new dwellings were
erected by the London County Council, the Borough Council
erected 33 dwellings for Old People in Sycamore Gardens. 4 fiats
in Clematis Street, 48 flats in Sulgrave Gardens and 6 in DuCane
Road.
The Council acts as landlord for 3,336 principal tenants. The
properties managed include houses, flats, prefabs and requisitioned
accommodation.
The following table illustrates the progress that is being made:
| 1. | Number of families rehoused by the Borough Council in new flats and houses since the war | 1,165 |
| 2. | Number of families rehoused by the Borough Council in rebuilt houses since the war | 30 |
| 3. | Number of families rehoused in prefabricated dwellings since the war (Still living in prefabricated dwellings at the end of the year = 38) | 80 |
| 4. | Number of Borough Council licensees living in requisitioned properties at the end of the year | 598 |
| 5. | Number of families on the Waiting List at the end of the year | 1,480 |
Overcrowding.
One licence was granted under Section 80 of the Housing
Act, 1957.