London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Stepney 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

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Houses Let in Lodgings,
There are approximately 762 such premises in the Borough,
and 27 complaints were investigated during the year.
Section 6 of the Housing Act, 1936, and Section 155 of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, under which byelaws
were made in respect of houses let in lodgings, were
replaced by Sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Repairs and
Rents Act, 1954. Under Section 11, local authorities may
serve notices for securing fitness of houses let-in-lodgings
for occupation by the number of families acconmodated, and
the standards of fitness are laid down. In order to conply
with a notice, the person on whom it is served may either
carry out the work specified on the notice or take steps
to limit the families accommodated on the premises in any
manner so specified.
House-to-House Inspection.
House-to-house inspection of their districts was resumed
by the District Sanitary Inspectors in April, and 1,042
houses, involving 1,290 visits, had been so inspected at the
end of the year.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
The number of enquiries dealt with during the year
regarding outstanding notices under the Public Health and
Housing Acts, and reported to the Town Clerk, amounted to
772, which related to 2,084 properties.
Licensed Premises.
A survey of sanitary accommodation facilities in
licensed premises in the Borough was carried out during
the year. The survey revealed that, taking the minimum
standard of accommodation for each premises as being one
W.C. for females and one W.C. and urinal for males, 158 of
the 225 licensed premises in the area fell short of the
minimum standard. The Licensing Justices are aware of the
problem and steps are being taken to seek the co-operation
of the brewers to effect the necessary improvements in
accommodation.
At the request of the Licensing Justices, inspections
are made of Public Houses and Off Licences when applications
for grant or transfer of licences are being made under the
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