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
Lewisham 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
The powers contained in the Housing Act 1961 as amended by the Housing Act,
1964 in connection with standards of management, the provision of amenities,
necessary fire precautions and control of occupation in houses in multiple occupation
were used to the full extent by staff available during the year.
The following shows the cases reported for formal action to the Housing
Committee in 1965.
Sections 12 and 13 (management regulations) 16
Section 14 (management notices) 3
Section 15 (provision of amenities) 20
Section 16 (fire precautions) 34
Section 19 (occupation directions) 63
In addition, a number of properties were dealt with by informal action, some of
which arose from the referring of applicants for G.L.C. mortgages to the Department
for appropriate guidance. It was possible in certain cases to improve conditions by
persuading the landlord to apply for grant aid.
Work in default of compliance with notices for the provision of amenities, fire
precautions, and also for repairs under sections 9 and 10 of the Housing Act, 1957
at two properties was started, and this work was in progress at the end of the year.
RENT ACT, 1957
The following table shows the applications for certificates of disrepair dealt with
during the year 1965.
Table 51
| Applications for certificates | 17 |
| Decisions not to issue certificates | 5 |
| Decisions to issue certificates | |
| (a) in respect of some but not all the defects | 4 |
| (b) in respect of all defects | 3 |
| Undertakings given by landlords to repair | 5 |
| Undertakings refused for special reasons | — |
| Certificates of disrepair issued | 7 |
| Applications by landlords for cancellation of certificates | 12 |
| Objections by tenants to cancellation | 5 |
| Decisions to cancel in spite of tenants' objection | 1 |
| Certificates cancelled | 8 |
| (a) —HOUSES DEMOLISHED | |
| (Housing Act, 1957) | |
| Houses unfit for human habitation | — |
| Houses included by reason of bad arrangement | — |
| Houses or land acquired under s. 43 | — |
| Formal or informal procedure under s. 17(1) | — |
| Local authority houses certified unfit by medical officer of health | _ |