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68
HOUSING.
implied condition has been set aside in some cases by the terms of the agreement between
landlord and tenant, but under Sec. 12 of the Act of 1903, the condition is to remain effective
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, and any future agreement to waive the
implied condition is to be void.
The Council has the power under Section 57 (2) of the Act of 1890 to acquire houses and
adapt them for the purposes of housing people of the working classes*—in other words to
become landlords of houses let in lodgings. Under Sections 59 and 60 of the same Act, land
can be acquired for this purpose, and bv Section 74 it is provided that if any such houses are
found—after a period of at least seven vears—to be too expensive or unnecessary, they may,
with the consent of the Local Government Board, be sold. The Boroughs of Kensington and
Camberwell have exercised their powers under these provisions, the former during the past
year, the latter at an earlier date. In Paddington nothing has been actually undertaken,
but proposals have been under the consideration of the Housing Committee. A private
company has within the last two years commenced similar operations within the Borough.
It cannot be too often stated that the main difficulty in connection with "housing" is the
question of profit—that it to sav to decide to what extent it is justifiable to draw on the
rates to make good deficiencies. It is a comparatively easy matter to provide for those who
can pay market value rents, but the accommodation which is wanted is for those who are
unable to pay such rents. The housing of such people must involve more or less deficiency,
which must be made up either by philanthropists or from the rates. With the former it is not
necessary to deal, as regards the latter, it is a question which sooner or later must be faced
and settled. The danger which appears to be likely to arise is the creation of a special class
of persons who might under certain circumstances exercise an undesirable influence in local
politics. A suggestion which offers the simplest solution to that danger is the disfranchisement
so far as concerns local government of all persons living in municipal houses.
That the letting of lodgings to the working classes, as usually managed, is profitable, can
hardly be doubted. The statement is supported by the fact that houses for this purpose command
a ready sale, and by the fact that certain people practically live—and live comfortably—
bv the business. Information has been obtained, by one of the Staff of the Department, which
suggests that, after making due allowance for bad debts, dilapidations, etc., the net profits do
not fall short of 8 per cent. per annum, a very fair return for an investment at the present
time.
Inhabited House Duty.—Sec. 11 of the Revenue Act, 1903, consolidates, and partly
repeals the corresponding provisions of Sec. 26 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1890,
and Sec. 4 (2) of the Act of 1891. Houses of an annual value—i.e., gross rateable value—not
exceeding .£20 are exempted from the Inhabited House Duty; the Duty for houses of values
between £20 and £40 is reduced to 3d., and that for houses between £40 and £60, to 6d. As
regards houses in the two first categories, a certificate to the effect that the houses are constructed
so as to afford suitable accommodation for each of the families or persons inhabiting
them must be obtained. Such certificate is to be issued by the medical officer of health, unless
some person qualified to hold that office be specially appointed by the Local Authority to
issue such certificate.
Very few applications have been received for the certificate for some years. Last year
one application was received, relating to four blocks of flats in Wvmering Road, each block
containing 10 flats.
It has been ascertained that before flats can come under the provisions of the Section,
they must be rated separately. It is not certain whether the same rule does not apply to
tenement houses.
* The first definition of the expression " working class " is given in the Schedule to the Act of 1903.