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
Harrow 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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53
Section 26 enables a local authority when proposals are made for
using a house the subject of a Demolition Order for a purpose other than
for human habitation to determine the Demolition Order and substitute
a Closing Order.
Certificates
The following is a summary of the applications received for the issue of certificates of Disrepair under the Rent Act:—
| Number of Certificates granted | 21 |
| Number of applications not granted | 1 |
| Number of Undertakings accepted from owners | 18 |
| Number of Certificates cancelled upon application | 12 |
| Number of applications for a Certificate as to the remedying of defect | 14 |
| Number of applications by owners for Cancellation of Certificates not granted | 5 |
Overcrowding
The annual return of the state of overcrowding in the district showed
that once more there is an improvement. The number of cases known on
the 31st December, 1960 was thirty-eight; the number on the 31st
December, 1961 was thirty-one.
The net reduction of seven is the difference between seventeen cases
in which the overcrowding was abated and ten new cases which were
added during the year.
In three instances the overcrowding was abated by families being
rehoused by the Council.
Of the ten new cases, four were the result of an increase in the size
of the family, or of the ageing of the children and three the marriage of
one of the children. Three were caused by lodgers; in one instance this
was a relative.
Of the thirty-one cases which were overcrowded on the 31st December,
1961, seven were overcrowded by half a unit, twenty by one unit,
three by one and a half units and one by two units.
New Housing
The total number of new dwellings provided in this district from the
end of the war to the 31st December, 1961, was 6,866. Of these, 2,873
were new Permanent Council dwellings and 200 were new temporary
dwellings. Of these 200, sixty-seven have been removed. 3,182 permanent
dwellings have been provided by private enterprise. 338 dwellings destroyed
by enemy action were rebuilt and 340 existing houses coverted. At the end