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Many have lived for years in the same small houses or tenements
with ever increasing families, but stationary incomes. These people
cannot afford the extra rooms necessary to live in comfort, health, or
even decency. There is at present nowhere for these people to move to
that is compatible with their scheme of life.
To displace present residential areas with industrial concerns is
of no use unless alternative accommodation is provided for them within
easy distance of their work, and this policy can only tend to increase
overcrowding in the vicinity of their old neighbourhood.
11T. Fitness of Houses. - (a) The general standard of house varies
in Southwark within certain limits, but there are practically no better
class houses in single occupation. Roughly they fall into two groups—
old houses now occupied by more than one family, many of these
originally three storey houses with basement kitchen, and a large area
of more modern roads of small villa houses, which are also in most
instances occupied by more than one family.
There are in addition streets of two storey artisans cottages, many
of which are falling into decay, and large blocks of tenement dwellings
which are with a few exceptions well kept and in good condition.
(b) The chief defects are due to the age of the property, and in the
poorer districts the lack of light and air space, and the crowding together
of the houses.
(c) The owners, generally speaking, spend a considerable amount in
endeavouring to keep their property in good condition, but the tenants
in the poorer parts are careless and destructive.
They make little endeavour to keep their homes clean and tidy, and
allow their children to do damage without restraint. They tear the
wall paper, chip the plaster, and scribble on the paint, after which the
landlord is expected to make good the damage at his expense.
When visiting houses for the purpose of dealing with nuisances
under the Public Health Act it has often been found that defects exist
which are not within the scope of the Public Health Act, and yet
requiring attention. To meet the question of these minor repairs
necessary to make the house "reasonably fit for habitation," and yet of
scarcely such importance as to necessitate putting the machinery of
Section 3 of the 1925 Housing Act in motion, an informal notice was