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Environmental Health
81

MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
The problem of multiple occupation is a continuing one. The majority of dwelling houses in the
Borough are of a type suitable only for single-family occupation, and in fact the houses used for
multiple occupation are mainly of this type. Consequently, any use of houses for more than one family
results in over-occupation.
In order to control the problem the Council decided on a policy of serving Direction Orders on all
houses used for multiple occupation—the number fixed by the Order being determined on the available
rooms and facilities in the dwelling. Therefore, a conventional three-bedroom type house has a number
of 5. The effect of Direction Orders was explained in my report for 1965.
There were several contraventions of Direction Orders—in most cases it was possible to secure
compliance by negotiation. In five instances in order to remedy the unsatisfactory conditions it was
necessary to institute legal proceedings—in each case successfully
The owners of dwellings in multiple occupation are required to complete at regular intervals
Requisitions for Information giving the names of the persons occupying the dwelling. Failure to submit
correct information is an offence.
Although this procedure is useful, the information obtained is often unreliable. This may be for
several reasons, the principal one being that frequently the occupants of this type of accommodation
are immigrants who cannot speak or read English. Checks are made on the information given by visits
to the premises, in many cases late at night—as this is the only time it is possible to find the residents
at home.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
1. Known number of houses in multiple occupation 203
2. Number of houses on which Notices of Intention have been served for
(a) Management Orders (Section 12)
(b) Directions on overcrowding (Section 19) 146
3. Number of houses on which have been made:
(a) Management Orders
(b) Directions on overcrowding 147