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
Waltham Forest 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Waltham Forest]
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4. OWNERSHIP OF DWELLINGS
Ownership of dwelling units were owner/occupiers 44.5% (666), private 46.8% (702) and
L.B.W.F. 8.7% (130).
It is interesting to note that the number of owner/occupiers and private landlords are of
the same order 44.5% and 46.8% respectively; the trend of increasing owner/occupation of this
type of property continues.
5. OCCUPATION
Assessment of multiple occupation was made in accordance with the new definition in
Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1969. There are many kinds of situations to be covered and the
new definition has been framed in general terms viz - "a house which is occupied by persons
who do not form a single household", Circular 67/69 indicates that it would be resonable to
regard the new definition as covering in particular:
(i) a house occupied by two or more households;
(ii) a house occupied by a number of persons where the relationships between
the various individuals resident at any one time are so tenuous as to
support the view that they can neither singly nor collectively be regarded
as forming a single household; and
(iii) a house which is occupied by one main household together with varying
numbers of individuals who do not form part of that household. The
principal example of this third situation is where a house is used for
accommodating lodgers, although in certain circumstances an individual
lodger might form part of a household.
It was found that 144 dwelling units (I 1.3%) were in multiple occupation by reason of
two household sharing one or more of the available facilities; in addition 5 dwellings were
occupied by more than two households.
6. STRUCTURAL CONDITION - INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
The overall situation with respect to structural repair and maintenance may be summarised thus:
| Good | Fair | Poor | Unfit | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External | 689(49.2%) | 612(43.7%) | 92(6.6%) | 7(0.5%) | 1400 |
| Internal | 982(77.3%) | 266(20.9%) | 14(1.2%) | 7(0.6%) | 1269 |
Excludes 98 post-war L.B.W.F. properties.
Most of the 666 owner/occupied dwelling units were conspicuous by their attractive
external appearance which is also a reflection of their good condition and maintenance; 75%
were classified to be in good structural condition and repair; 23.5% were fair and only 1.5%
poor.
The position is almost reversed in the private sector; only 24.7% of 702 dwelling units
being in a good state of structural repair, 62.9% in fair condition, 11.4% poor and 1.0% (7)
unfit.
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