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14
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR
for the Year 1947.
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E. 20.
June, 1948.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to place before you the Annual Report of the work of the
Sanitary Inspectors for the year ending the 31st December, 1947.
There was again a large increase in the number of complaints received
regarding defects and nuisances in houses.
The severe wintry weather in the early part of the year accounted for many
burst pipes, cracked cisterns and sanitary fittings and should serve as a warning
for the need of more adequate protection from frost of these items.
The continued restrictions imposed in the granting of Licences for repair
and maintenance work and the shortages of various materials and fittings have
caused a certain amount of delay in remedying even some of the most serious
nuisances.
In order to expedite the granting of building licences, many owners of
property, particularly those of the owner-occupier class, lodged complaints
regarding the condition of their houses, a thing unheard of before the War.
The requirements of Notices served have, of necessity, been restricted to the
more serious defects. A great deal of work is still necessary to bring many houses
in the district up to a reasonable standard of fitness.
A large amount of repair work has, however, been done during the year as
will be seen on reference to the list of work executed.
There are unsatisfactory owners as well as unsatisfactory tenants, and I
regret that it was found necessary to take legal proceedings on many occasions
regarding statutory nuisances caused by housing defects.