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
London County Council 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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| Metropolitan borough. | Population (1901). | Number of inhabited houses (1901). | Tenements (1901). | Number of houses now on register. | Number newly entered on register during present year. | Frequency with which registered houses are inspected. | Are the registered houses inspected by special officers, and if so how many are employed on this duty and on what other duties, if any, are they engaged ? | Number of proceedings instituted under the by-laws before the magistrate during the present year— (a) Concerning cleansing. (b) „ overcrowding, (c) „ other matters. | Date when by-laws were confirmed. | Whether by-laws contain rent-limits or other exemption. | Whether, and if so what, difficulties have been experienced in the administration of the by-laws in respect of definition of landlord, rent-limits of exemption or any other matter. | Remarks. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number. | Less than five rooms. | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Hackney | 219,272 | 30,634 | 48,794 | 29,089 | 442 | None | If possible once yearly | By the sanitary inspector for the district in which they are situated | None | 25-11-95 | Yes * | The medical officer refers to his report for the year 1898, in which he discusses the definition of "landlord," and points out the difficulty which arises when the landlord is without resources. | |
| Hammersmith | 112,239 | 15,198 | 25,810 | 15,505 | 1,359 | 559 | At least once in each year | Yes. One. None | None | 28-4-96 | Yes* | So far the work is progressing satisfactorily. No difficulty has been experienced, with the exception of the fact that there are many houses that ought to be registered but cannot be registered owing to the rent limit. | 198 notices served. It has not been found to be necessary to apply for a summons. |
| Hampstead | 81,942 | 11,294 | 16,998 | 7,178 | 911 | 41 | Constantly | By female inspector and by four district inspectors | None | 17-1-95 | (See bylaw II.)† | None. | |
| Holborn | 59,405 | 4,703 | 13,790 | 10,772 | 596 | About 150 in process of registration | Varies. Some require more inspection than others | By the sanitary inspectors in whose districts they are situated, assisted in one district by the additional inspector | (a) 6, (6) 0, (c) 13, but not under the regulations. New by-laws not yet approved | ( 9-3-85 (Holborn) 3-3-87 (St. Giles) | No | No limits of exemption. The medical officer thinks limits of rent for exemption would much increase difficulties of registration. Houses are registered only after the consent of the Public Health Committee and of the Council. | In many cases the proceedings are for nuisances, etc., which are not included in the regulations, and any of the former are included with the latter in the same summons. |
| Islington | 334,991 | 38,645 | 79,129 | 55,801 | 533 | 13 | The frequency varies according to the manner in which they are occupied. Some are visited once and twice a week, some about every 14 days, and all not less than once in 3 months | Yes. Two One of the inspectors is also engaged in the purchase of samples under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts | (à) 12 (b) None (c) 3 | 6-7-94 | (See bylaw II.)† | When the premises are required to be cleansed, it is frequently found that the "landlord" does not possess the means to carry out the cleansing required under the by-laws. The owner of these houses should be held responsible for the cleansing, because he, as a rule, gets an increased rental owing to the fact that the house is let in tenements. | |
| Kensington | 176,628 | 22,131 | 38,349 | 21,115 | 2,063 | 360 | Variable; according to the special needs of individual cases | No. The duty is performed by the ten sanitary inspectors each in his own district | 3 (a and c) | 24-1-85 | No | There is no rent limit or other limit of exemption; the Public Health Committee use their discretion in each case brought to their notice. No difficulties have been experienced in administration in any respect. | Modified by-laws have been framed by the Public Health Committee, and are, at present, in the hands of the Local Government Board with a view to the tentative approval of that body prior to submission to the Council. This course was adopted in conformity with the wishes of the Board. |
| Lambeth | 301,895 | 41,511 | 70,887 | 44,495 | 371 containing 2,117 rooms | One during 1901 | Regularly from time to time. Not less often than twice monthly | No | None yet | 11-5-97 | (See bylaw IT.)† | "Owners" should be made liable for cleansing instead of "landlords." This would be a very useful amendment. "Landlords" are unable financially, or otherwise, to carry out the annual cleaning. | |
| Lewisham | 127,495 | 22,750 | 27,701 | 8,561 | 29 | 2 | Monthly | Yes, one inspector employed also on house-to-house inspection | None | 31-5-95 | (See bylaw II. )† | None to the knowledge of the medical officer of health. | |
| Paddington | 143,976 | 17,684 | 33,661 | 21,815 | 543 | 152 | No interval prescribed. They will be closely looked after. | Two inspectors devote their whole time to the work | (a) 20 (c) 1 | 13-2-94 6-3-01 (amending clause as to exemption) | Yes *§ | The main difficulty experienced so far is that of getting the annual whitewashing promptly carried out. Different arrangements will be made next year with a view to getting the work completed before summer comes on. | The two inspectors commenced work during the second quarter of the year. The houses are at present being added to the register at the rate of about 10 a week. |
| Poplar | 168,822 | 22,613 | 35,787 | 26,216 | 270 | 82 | Constantly | One special officer devotes his whole time to the work | Four summonses for cleansing | 29-11-95 27-9-00 (amending clause as to exemption) | Yes * | Limits of exemption have been raised, as original limits were found to militate against the usefulness of the by-law. Difficulty is experienced in obtaining the cleansing of the houses as the by-laws require this to be done only once a year, in the month of April. By reason of a specific time being named the cleansing can be readily avoided by a change of tenancy. This has been done on several occasions. | |
| St. Marylebone | 133,301 | 13,536 | 31,623 | 22,947 | 916 | 11 | Several times a year | No. Seven sanitary inspectors are engaged on this and the other work of the department | No proceedings have been taken. If proceedings are taken, it is under the Public Health (London) Act | 15-5-90 | No | No difficulties are experienced. | |
| St. Pancras | 235,317 | 23,715 | 57,045 | 45,023 | 1,270 (to end of Sept.) | 409 (from Aug., 1901 to Sept., 1902) | Half-yearly | Yes. Two officers are engaged upon this special duty only | None | 13-11-93 | (See by-law III.)‡ | None. | |
† Until the landlord has been required to furnish a statement as to certain particulars.
* Rent-limits of exemption.
‡ The sanitary authority shall cause notice to be served at any tenement house with respect to which the Health Committee shall
report that such house ought to be registered.
§ Where the landlord himself resides on the premises and the sub-letting by such landlord is to not more than one lodger.