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
Walthamstow 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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34
No. of tenancies on Rental Register, 31.12.31 1,096
No. of applicants on Housing Register, 31.12.31 1,948*
Deduct—No. of applicants allotted houses 61
No. of applications remaining on Register 1,887
(* Including 114 applications brought forward from the old
register.)
Early in 1932 a new scheme of analysing applications was
brought before the Housing Committee by Mr. West and was adopted.
Briefly, each category defines the average number of persons per
room (including kitchen, but excluding scullery) in the existing
accommodation. An analysis of the 1948 applications on 31st
December, 1931, showed the position to be as follows:—
Category A. (Over 3 persons per room) 109
„ B. ( „ 2 „ ,, ) 236
„ C. ( „ 2 ,, ,, ) 244
„ D. (Less than 2 persons per room) 1,091
,, O. (Ample existing accommodation, unmarried
persons or childless couples).. 153
,, E. Applicants allotted houses 61
,, F. Deferred cases 9
,, G. Cancelled applications 45
Total 1,948
By the 11th January, 1932, the Category A cases had increased to 106 out of a total of 1931 applications and an analysis of these cases made by Mr. West on this date was as follows:—
| Unsuitable | Not clean | 37 |
| Unable to pay minimum rent of approximately 15s. | 17 | |
| Doubtful ability to pay rent | 10 | |
| Transferred to other categories | 10 | |
| Unsatisfactory enquiries—no reply after two visits | 8 | |
| 82 | ||
| Allotted houses handed over during enquiry period | 10 | |
| Suitable for allotment subject to satisfactory references | 14 24 | |
| Total | 106 | |
The analysis given above cannot be viewed with equanimity
inasmuch as 82 out of 106 applicants were found to be unsuitable for