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 Southwark, Borough of]
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(3) The number of rooms to be vacated in dwellings of three or
more rooms occupied by overcrowded families plus one-half of the number
of excess rooms in 1-room and 2-room dwellings, as above, was used in
calculating on the standard of Table I, the extent to which the existing
accommodation would provide dwellings of the various sizes of three or
more rooms required.
(4) The difference between (1) and (2) above, representing the
amount of new accommodation in dwellings of three or more rooms to
be provided on the standard of Table I, was reduced by the number of
dwellings to be provided by re-housing operations under the 1930 Act,
and then converted into the requirements on the standard of 1½ persons
a room in accordance with a table based on the 1931 census figure.
The estimate, whilst being an approximate and, to a large extent,
a theoretical one, was considered sufficient to form the basis of the first
re-housing proposals.
Two of the factors likely to influence the estimate are (1) the difficulty
in practice of re-allocating the vacated accommodation, involving, as
it does, the maximum co-operation of the landlords, and (2) the possible
reluctance of landlords to let their dwellings to large families.
The survey, tabulation and estimate were all completed, and the
results forwarded to the London County Council within the specified
time, and the staff engaged in connection therewith carried out their
duties in a very satisfactory manner.
A noteworthy feature of the survey was that it was carried out with
so little friction between the staff and the inhabitants of the Borough,
particularly in view of the fact that, in numerous instances, tenants
who were out at work during the daytime, had to be visited in the evenings
or on Saturday afternoons in order that the necessary information could
be obtained.
There were, of course, one or two troublesome cases, but generally
there was a genuine desire on the part of the people to assist the
enumerators and survey assistants in their task.
St. Saviour's Ward. Percentage Overcrowded, 15.5.
Lettings. Size. | Families. | Total. | |
---|---|---|---|
Overcrowded . | Not Overcrowded. | ||
One room | 31 | 251 | 282 |
Two rooms | 133 | 381 | 514 |
Three rooms | 64 | 356 | 420 |
Four rooms | 25 | 271 | 296 |
Five rooms | 2 | 102 | 104 |
Six rooms or more | — | 28 | 28 |
Total | 255 | 1,389 | 1,644 |
The most severe cases of overcrowding in the various sizes of letting were:—
One room | 7 equated persons. |
Two rooms | 9½ ,, ,, |
Three rooms | 11½ ,, |
Four rooms | 11 |
Five rooms | 12½ ,, |