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11
Structurally divided private houses are separately shown for the
first time, with a view to affording an indication of the extent to
which houses originally built for the occupation of single families
have been structurally divided to provide separate and independent
occupation for two or more families.
There is evidence in the returns that it has not always been
possible for enumerators to distinguish between buildings originally
erected to comprise flats or maisonettes, and those subsequently
converted for the purpose.
Although not absolutely essential to gauge the value of housing
conditions which obtain here, some standard of comparison is useful
to estimate the advance or the retrogression which has occurred.
It is rather difficult to compare exactly 1921 with 1911 as new terms
were introduced in 1921. On the whole, the conditions are not so
satisfactory in 1921 as they were in 1911, and the comparison with
the whole of Middlesex does not reflect favourably upon Acton. In
1921, in Acton there were 14,941 families living in 11,820 dwellings.
The average number of families per occupied dwelling is 1.26, which
is the same figure as that of Middlesex.
When we analyse this figure, though, it will be seen that the
figure of 3 familes per dwelling in Acton is higher, and alters the
character of the percentage.
Middlesex Acton
Families living in single occupation
of separate dwellings 61% 58.8%
Families living two to a dwelling 30% 28.2%
Families living in dwellings
containing three or more
families each 9% 13%
It must be remembered that in the census classification of
families, a single lodger boarding separately from the occupier is
regarded—as on previous occasions—as a separate family.
A number obtained in this way will throw little light upon the
condition of housing without an examination into the composition
of the families and the extent of the accommodation comprised in
the dwellings which they occupy.