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
Hampstead 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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The following Tables show the result of the Survey of Underground Rooms so far inspected, and the results of action taken during the year:—
| Allocation : | Percentage of premises inspected | |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Premises found to comply with Underground Room Regulations | 63 | 18 |
| (2) Premises found not to comply, but which can be made to comply with Regulations | 183 | 53 |
| (3) Premises found not to comply, and cannot be made to comply with Regulations(i.e., Closure only alternative—action deferred pending provision of satisfactory accom-modation) | 65 | 18.8 |
| (4) Premises found which do not comply with Regulations in minor details only (no action contemplated) | 8 | 2.3 |
| (5) Premises found to be used for purposes other than human habitation, or unoccupied | 26 | 79 |
| Total | 345 | 100 |
| Number of rooms made to conform. | Number of rooms closed or illegal occupation discontinued. | Total number of rooms. | Number of premises concerned. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action under P.H. Acts (1891 and 1936) | 42 | 8 | 50 | 28 |
| Action under Housing Acts (1925-35) Action as the result of volun- | 4 | 11 | 15 | 7 |
| tary conversion of premises into flats and in connection with new buildings | 30 | 2 | 32 | 18 |
| 76 | 21 | 97 | 53 |
The number of Underground Rooms found not to comply with
the requirements, and indicated in the allocation above as (2), (3) and
(4), totalled 396. They were found to exist in 256 premises. Of
these rooms, 202 were found in 102 Tenement Houses.
Now that it has been established by law that underground rooms
which do not conform to the prescribed standard may be used, neither
for sleeping nor for living purposes, the question should next be considered
as to what should be included in the term " living room.
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