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tenants describe themselves as "Post Office Workers," an occupation which
might by some be regarded as coming under the heading " Civil Servants."
The two most numerous categories of tenants are " Clerks, etc.," of whom there
are 1,816, and "Labourers," of whom there are 1,033. Of the tenants 503 describe
themselves as " Railway Workers," and 393 as " Tramway Workers." Adding to
these figures the number of tenants who describe themselves as " Conductors,"
"Drivers," "Motor Drivers," and " Engine Drivers," and probably a considerable
number of the " Engineers " and " Labourers," it is clear that a large proportion
of the tenants are engaged in the Transport service.
The rents charged for the dwellings are fixed on the basis of pre-war rents of
similar accommodation in the neighbourhood, the 40 per cent. increase allowed by
the Increase of Rent, etc., Acts, being added and due variations being made having
regard to size, amenities and position.
Fixation of
rents,
Under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act, 1915,
the additional rates which the Council had to pay in respect of the dwellings were
added to the rents payable by the tenants while, in accordance with the Increase of
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, the rents were further increased,
as from September, 1920, by 30 per cent. of the net rents of 1914. In July, 1921,
the Council, as permitted by the last-mentioned Act, increased the rents by an
additional 10 per cent., thus making the full increase—namely, 40 per cent.—
allowed by the Act. The amount produced by the increase over a complete
financial year is about £66,500. These permitted increases have not been made in
respect of property acquired by the Council forming part of slum clearance
areas. The periodical revision of rents consequent upon alterations in the
rates involves a great amount of work, the calculations affecting nearly 19,000
tenements with varying rents and rateable values and situated in the areas of nearly
thirtv different local rating authorities.
Rent Restrietions
Acts.
The health conditions on all the estates continue to be highly satisfactory.
The population of the Council's dwellings in the different metropolitan boroughs is,
of course, small in proportion to the borough population in each case, and properly
comparable vital statistics are therefore not obtainable. The statistics available
are such, however, as to justify the inference that the health conditions in the
Council's dwellings are better than those in the boroughs concerned and in the
county of London as a whole.
Vital
statistics.
In the Housing Accounts for 1924-25 details are given of the financial results
of the Council's housing schemes up to 31st March, 1925, but it may be apposite to
repeat here some of the more important figures. In this connection it is necessary
to preserve a clear distinction between the Non-Assisted Sehemes and the Assisted
Schemes promoted under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, the Housing,
etc., Act, 1923, and the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.
financial
results.
Dealing first with the Non-Assisted Schemes, the aggregate capital expenditure
on dwellings provided to 31st March, 1925, was £3,030,824. The gross rental
(including rates and taxes) for the year was £349,193. From this amount should be
deducted the losses arising out of empties and rent irrecoverable. The financial result
of the year's working, after providing for interest and sinking fund charges on the
capital expenditure, was a surplus of £64,734, as compared with a surplus for the
preceding year of £52,390. In regarding this surplus it should be borne in mind that
when the percentage increase under the Increase of Rent, etc., Acts, was fixed,
allowance was made, having regard to the altered financial conditions, for an increase
of one per cent. on the interest on the original capital expenditure. The interest and
sinking fund charges amounted to £111,460, or 31.92 per cent. of the gross rental.
Other outgoings amounted to £176,127, or 50.44 per cent. of the gross rental, including
£79,819 (22.86 per cent. of the gross rental) for rates and taxes.
As regards Assisted Scheme dwellings provided under the Act of 1919, the aggregate
capital expenditure up to 31st March, 1925, was £9,744,922. The gross rental