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
Hillingdon 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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SLUM CLEARANCE
During 1971 the Council declared one clearance area comprising 2 houses and made 2
Demolition Orders.
Inspections of similar type properties will be made during 1972 and representations will be
submitted in order to deal with any further unfit property. The number to be dealt with is small
as most of the older houses in the Borough are capable of being dealt with by repair and
mprovement.
It is appropriate to mention that the operation of the Improvement Grant provisions of the
Housing Act, 1969 has resulted in the repair and improvement of many houses already, which,
if that action had not been taken the houses would be being considered for clearance procedure.
REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
The repair and improvement of houses is achieved by various means:
(a) By the operation of the qualification certificate procedure where the landlord applies
for a Qualification Certificate to enable him to ask the rent office to fix a fair rent for
his properties. Before issuing a Qualification Certificate the local authority must be
satisfied that the house is in good repair and possesses the standard amenities.
82
The action taken during the year is reported below in the following tables:
| 1. Undertakings received (Section 16) | — |
| 2. Closing Orders made (Section 17) ... | — |
| 3. Demolition Orders made (Section 17) | 3 |
| 4. Closing Orders made (rooms) (Section 18) | 1 |
| 5. Closing Orders determined (Section 27) | 1 |
| 6. Closing Orders revoked and Demolition Orders substituted (Section 28) | — |
| 7. Houses demolished following Demolition Order | 4 |
| 8. Houses demolished following Closing Orders | — |
| 9. Number of persons displaced: | |
| (a) individuals | — |
| (b) families | — |
Since the 1st April, 1965 the Council have made 49 Demolition Orders, 33 Closing Orders and declared 43 Clearance Areas.
| (1) | Clearance Areas represented during the year: | |
| (a) Number of areas | 1 | |
| (b) Houses unfit for human habitation | 2 | |
| (c) Houses included by reason of bad arrangement, etc. | ||
| (d) Houses on land acquired under Section 43(2) | — | |
| (e) Number of people to be displaced: | ||
| (i) individuals | 3 | |
| (ii) families | 1 | |
| (2) | Action taken during the year relating to Clearance Areas: | |
| (a) Houses demolished by Local Authorities or owners: | ||
| (i) unfit | 13 | |
| (ii) others | — | |
| (b) Number of people displaced: | ||
| (i) individuals | 23 | |
| (ii) families | 7 |