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
Sutton 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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HOUSING.
Clearance of Unfit Houses.
Due to reorganisation the year under review was an unsatisfactory one and
little progress was made. Some preliminary survey work was undertaken, with
a view to estimating the number of houses which should be included in the
Council's programme. This has shown that some two hundred families are living
in houses which do not appear to satisfy the standards of the Housing Act, 1957.
Attempts were made to inaugurate a co-ordinated plan of action having regard
to redevelopment areas and the housing programme, and these will continue. The
major difficulty is that areas are of a scattered nature and their size does not
render them suitable for redevelopment.
Five unfit houses, Nos. 7-15 Park Road, Cheam, which the owner had agreed
not to re-let, became unoccupied and were demolished without statutory action
being taken.
Inspection and Action taken under Statutory Powers.
| (a) Total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) | 5,207 |
| (b) Number of inspections for the purpose | 7,783 |
| 1. Number of dwelling houses found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation | 307 |
| 2. Remedy of defects during the year without service of formal notices. | |
| Number of defective dwelling houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by local authority or their officers (including houses inspected during 1964) | 122 |
| 3. Action under Statutory Powers during the year. (a) PROCEEDINGS UNDER SECTIONS 9, 10 and 12 OF THE HOUSING ACT, 1957. | |
| Number of dwelling houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs | — |
| Number of dwelling houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices: | |
| (a) By owners | — |
| (b) By Local Authority in default of owners | — |
| (b) PROCEEDINGS UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS. | |
| (l) Number of dwelling houses in respect of which formal notices were served requiring defects to be remedied | 58 |
| (2) Number of dwelling houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal notices: | |
| (a) By owners | — |
| (b) By Local Authority | 33 |