London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1909
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health 1909
This page requires JavaScript
41
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
In the census year 1901, the tenements of less than five rooms numbered 21,315, and accom-modated a population of 73,425 persons distributed as follows:—
| Rooms in Tenement. | Number of Tenements. | Number of Persons. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,695 | 11,334 |
| 2 | 7,776 | 27,800 |
| 3 | 4,757 | 20,210 |
| 4 | 2,887 | 14,081 |
| Totals | 21,115 | 73,425 |
The total number of inhabited houses in the Borough in 1909 was 25,198. The supply of
small tenements is considerably in excess of the demand, but the accommodation where houses
originally let to a single householder have been converted into tenements is necessarily unsuitable
for working-class families. At the same time the state of cleanliness or filthiness in which rooms
are kept bears a much closer relationship to the character of the occupiers than to the nature of
the accommodation provided. In Virginia Place and other block dwellings, where each family has
a separate w.c. and where water is laid on to each floor, tenements are frequently found on
inspection to be kept in a disgraceful state of domestic uncleanliness. Temporary improvement
follows the service of notices, but no permanent change for the better is likely to be effected except
through the education of the poorest classes in the elementary principles of cleanly living.
Lodgings provided by the Council.— In October, 1901, under the power conferred by
Section 5 of the London Government Act, 1899, the Council adopted part III, of the Housing of
the Working Classes Act, 1890. As amended by the Housing Act, 1900, this part of the principal
Act enables local authorities to establish or acquire lodging houses for the working classes either
within or without their district.
The total number of tenements provided by the Council for the working classes under the
Housing Acts is shown in the following table :—
Council's Lodging Houses.
| Rooms in a Tenement. | Number of Tenements. | Rent per Week | Tenements Let. | Tenements Empty. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 3/- to 3/6 | 20 | 6 |
| 2 | 62 | 6/- to 7/- | 42 | 20 |
| 3 | 32 | 7/- to 8/- | 30 | 2 |
| Totals | 120 | 3/- to 8/- | 92 | 28 |
The above tenements provided by the Council are all within the Borough.
Houses Let in Lodgings.—During the year 20 tenement houses were added to the
register, the total number of registered lodging houses in the Borough being 2,076. These houses
are regularly inspected, and in every case where the class of tenant renders it desirable they are
cleansed and limewashed throughout in the spring of each year.