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Sanitary Circumstances
Housing - Preferential rehousing on medical grounds
At the beginning of the year the revised scheme generally adopted by
the Inner London Boroughs was put into practice regarding the submission
of medical evidence in support of housing accommodation. Applicants are
requested to state on a special form their reasons for wishing to claim
consideration on medical grounds, and only in those cases where it appears
necessary will the medical practitioner concerned be consulted. By this
system it is hoped to cut down considerably the demands made previously
by applicants on general practitioners.
During the year 1,115 applications for rehousing on medical grounds
were referred by the Housing Manager for assessment.

House-to-house Survey
House-to-house surveys were continued during the year to deal with
general housing defects, nuisances, and the enforcement of adequate
facilities and means of escape in case of fire in houses in multiple
occupation. A further 718 premises were surveyed, of which 494 called for
action under the Housing Acts.
Considerable effort was made to try to obtain completion of works
called for by notices served prior to 1969, and this is reflected in the
number of cases where formal action was begun.
With the advent of the Housing Act, 1969, there is some encouragement
for owners to instal additional amenities; but the level of Special
Grants is not such as to stimulate much voluntary action in houses in
multiple occupation, although the grants are likely to be taken up where
owners are requred to improve facilities under Section 15, Housing Act, 1961.
Every opportunity is taken, where the appropriate conditions exist,
to encourage the full improvement or conversion of properties; but often
the existing occupation of a house makes this very difficult.
It may be anticipated that the Housing Section will, during next year,
be involved to a greater extent in the rehabilitation of the low-rise
property in the Borough, possibly in General Improvement Areas. It is to
be regretted that improvement of properties within General Improvement
Areas will rely on persuasion and that the Housing Act, 1969, did not contain
powers designed to ensure the reasonably speedy completion of improvements
to all properties in such areas.
B.2