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
Marylebone 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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56
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
Included under this head are all ordinary tenement houses in which the rooms
or floors are let out separately. A large proportion of the houses in the Borough
are so let, and under bye-laws made by the London County Council under Section 6
of the Housing Act, 1936, all houses which are occupied, or are of a type suitable
for occupation, by persons of the working classes and let in lodgings or 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 6,896 visits were paid to the 1,645 houses of the tenement type. The
number of intimation notices served was 639, relating to cleansing and other defects.
Except in 34 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 artificial lighting arrangements in staircases
is called for by the bye-laws. During 1938, 58 intimation notices and 9 statutory
notices were served in regard to this matter, and all were complied with.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
During 1938, 51 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 34. Common Lodging Houses.
| Address. | Registered Owner. | Registered number of Occupants. |
|---|---|---|
| 2, Burne Street, and premises in Lisson Street | The Salvation Army Trustee Com-pany, Limited | 436 men |
| Portman House, Daventry Street and Harrow Street, Lisson Grove | The Rev. Prebendary Wilson Carlile, C.H., D.D. (The Church Army) | 100 women |
| Total | 536 |
UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
During the year the number of underground rooms occupied was still further
reduced, action taken in respect of 168 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.
Three certificates as to state of repair of premises were granted during 1938
under section 12 of the Rent, etc., Restrictions (Amendment) Act, 1933, and two
reports were subsequently issued under section 5(2) of the 1923 Act.
In order to avoid delay in dealing with applications for certificates, the Council
delegated their powers and duties under the Act of 1933 to a sub-committee of the
Public Health Committee consisting of the Mayor and the Chairman of the Committee
for the time being.