London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Marylebone 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
57
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
Included under this head are all ordinary tenement houses in which the rooms or
floors are let out separately. To some extent as a result of housing shortage, a very
large proportion of the houses in the Borough are of course so let, and under bye-laws
made by the London County Council under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
and Section 0 of the Housing Act, 1925, all houses suitable for the working classes
and occupied by members of more than one family are subject to registration, and
in them there must be compliance with certain requirements as to sanitation,
cleansing, etc. During the year some 6,164 visits were paid to the 852 houses carried
over from the old register. The number of intimation notices served was 898,
relating to cleansing and other defects. Except in 22 cases, where statutory notices
were issued, all of these notices were complied with without the necessity for further
proceedings arising.
In all tenement houses the provision of lighting arrangements in staircases is
called for by the bye-laws relating to houses let in lodgings. During 1937 the need
for the taking of formal action in this respect did not arise.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
During 1937, 34 visits were paid by officers of the department to the two
lodging houses in the Borough. In addition, the premises were periodically inspected
by a Fire Inspector (Mr. M. W. A. Davey) specially appointed for the purpose.
Apart from minor matters calling for attention, no action was found to be necessary
in respect of either of the common lodging houses.
TABLE 30.
Common Lodging Houses.
| Address. | Registered Owner. | Registered number of Occupants. |
|---|---|---|
| 2, Burne Street, and premises in Lisson Street | The Salvation Army Trustee Company, Limited | 436 men |
| Portman House, Daventry Street, and Harrow Street, Lisson Grove | The Rev. Prebendary Wilson Carlile, C.H., D.D. (The Church Army) Total | 100 women |
| 536 |
UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
Dining the year the number of underground rooms occupied was still further
reduced, action taken in respect of 140 in which the occupation was definitely illegal
securing discontinuance of such occupation. In addition, improvement of conditions
in a number of cases was secured under the regulations as to underground rooms.
RENT RESTRICTION ACTS.
The Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Acts, so far as
regards the provisions relating to certificates as to suitability for occupation of
houses, were not taken advantage of during the year, no application being received.