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REHOUSING AND OVERCROWDING
Requests were received from the London County Council during 1956 for
investigations to be made of alleged statutory overcrowding in respect of 18
applications for rehousing. Reports forwarded in reply confirmed overcrowding in
14 cases.
During the early part of 1956 the Council resolved that rehousing priority
should be determined entirely on a basis of need, and it was resolved to adopt a
points scheme as follows:-
General
(i) The basis will be only that of need.
(ii) In the event of two or more cases attracting the same number
of points, then time on the waiting list will be the determining
factor in the order of housing,
(iii) No points will be awarded for service in H,M. Forces or "bombed
out'?.
(iv) Lettings from the waiting list will be made by a Sub-Committee
of the main Committee, but subject to the latter's approval.
(v) One point will be awarded for each year on the waiting list.
(Subject to (ii) above.)
Points qualifications other than for time
Health - Points to a maximum of 10 to be awarded at the discretion
of the Medical Officer of Health.
Condition of property - Maximum of 10 points.
Living condition - Maximum of 15 points to be awarded as follows:-
5 points for shared or inadequate kitchen facilities
5 points for shared lavatory
5 points for shared bath or no bath
Room deficiency - 10 points for each room deficiency on the basis
that there is required a separate living room and a bedroom for
each two members of the family, allowance being made for
segregation of sexes.
It will be seen that insofar as the officials are concerned the maximum
number of points that can be awarded are determined by the scheme.
No points scheme however can be entirely fair and equitable and in order
to meet this situation the Lettings Sub- Committee is empowered to allocate points
entirely at its discretion.
During the course of the year 2 114 applications were investigated by the
staff of the Public Health Department following a visit by a Public Health
Inspector. Medical points were awarded either by me or Dr. Tracy: the Deputy Medical
Officer of Health.
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