Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]
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out the provisions of part 11. merely. But by Section 56 of part iii., "where this part of
this Act has been adopted in any district, the local authority shall have power to carry it
into execution (subject to the provisions of this part of this Act with respect to rural
sanitary authorities) and for that purpose may exercise the same powers whether of
contract or otherwise as in the execution of their duties in the case of the London County
Council under the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, and the Acts amending the same, or
in the case of sanitary authorities under the Public Health Acts." Part ii. legislates
concerning "Unhealthy Dwelling-houses." Section 30 says: "It shall be the duty of the
Medical Officer of Health of every district to represent to the local authority of that district
any dwelling-house which appears to him to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to
health as to be unfit for human habitation." Section 31 gives power to four or more
householders living in or near to any street to complain in writing to the Medical Officer
of Health of any dwelling-house in a condition dangerous or injurious to health, whereupon
the Medical Officer shall forthwith inspect the same and transmit to the local authority the
said complaint together with his opinion thereon. Section 32: A local authority shall
cause to be made from time to time inspection of their district, and if the Medical Officer
of Health or any Officer of such authority give information as to any dwelling being in a
state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, they shall
forthwith take proceedings against the owner or occupier for closing the dwelling-house.
A house may "be closed, whether the same be occupied or not." A closing order shall
be served by the local authority "on every occupying tenant," the period "not being less
than seven days after the service of the notice." The court making the closing order may
permit the local authority to "make to every such tenant such reasonable allowance on
account of his expenses in removing as may have been authorised by the court making the
closing order," but, "the said allowance shall be a civil debt due from the owner of the
dwelling-house to the local authority, and shall be recoverable summarily." Section 33
states that where such dwelling-house has not been rendered fit for human habitation, and
the necessary steps are not being taken with all due diligence to render it so fit, and that
the continuance of such dwelling-house is dangerous or injurious to health, shall pass a
resolution that it is expedient to order the demolition of the building. This demolition
order shall not be of a shorter time than one month after service of notice. Section 34,
Sub-section i. makes it imperative on the owner "within three months after service of