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63
HOUSING.
The particulars given here are those asked for by the Ministry of Health in the
memorandum as to the contents of reports of medical officers of health. Much of
what is said, is merely reproduced from the report for 1919, little or no change,
except possibly for the worse, having taken place in the interval.
I.—General Housing Conditions.
(1) Number of houses 21,000.
Number of houses for the working classes: If each tenement or
part of a house let as a separate dwelling be reckoned as a separate dwellinghouse,
there are probably about 9,000.
New houses for the working classes erected during the year or in
course of erection. Nil.
(2) Population (estimated), 101,856.
Important changes during the year or anticipated in the future.
None.
(3) (a) Extent of shortage or excess of houses, and
(b) Measures taken or contemplated to meet any shortage.
In the early part of 1919, as a result of a rapid survey carried out by the
sanitary inspectors, it was estimated that the population in tenement houses might be
taken approximately to be 28,634, and that the number of tenements (1, 2, 3 or 4
roomed), containing at least one more person than the standard of two per room was
1,894. On this basis the number of persons in excess of accommodation was then
1,894. Since that time there is little reason to believe that matters have improved.
Conditions so far as the houses themselves are concerned certainly have, but
reference to this matter has been made already in dealing with the question of
sanitary inspection and the difficulties and delays that have arisen in connection with
the getting of work done with a view to the removal of nuisances, remedying of
defects, etc.
In the parts of the Borough occupied by the working classes, the bulk of the
houses are of the tenement class and originally constructed to accommodate one
family only. They have been sub-divided and are let out in tenements of one, two,
three, and more rarely four rooms, no particular attempt having been made to fit the
separate tenements for occupation by a family. As a result most of the conveniences
—water-closets, etc.—have to be used in common and suffer not only as a result of
over use, but from mis-use and neglect. The houses themselves are also to a large
extent misused by the tenants and are neglected by the landlords or owners, who in a
majority of instances are holders of leases which are rapidly falling in. For the
reason that land is and always has been very expensive, the houses in the tenement
house areas—in Lisson Grove, in the east end behind Tottenham Court Road and
Oxford Street, and in parts of St. John's Wood—have been constructed mainly with