View report page

The total number of inhabited houses in the Borough in 1911 was 27,507. 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 certain blocks of 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 powers 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 convert existing buildings into lodgines, or to establish or acquire
lodging houses for the working classes either within or without their district.

The above tenements provided by the Council are all within the Borough.