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45
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
In the census year 1901, the tenements in the Borough of less than five rooms numbered 21,115,
and accommodated 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 1912 was 28,028. 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 lodgings, or 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 Tenement.
Number of Tenements.
Rent per Week.
1
26
2/6 to 3/6
2
62
5/6 to 7/-
3
32
7/- to 81-
Totals
120
2/6 to 81-
The above tenements provided by the Council are all within the Borough. At the end of the
year 106 were let and 14 were empty.