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11
Subletting is more or less usual in the foregoing types of
houses; even among the tenants of the three-roomed flats
mentioned above, it is frequently found that one of the rooms is
let to an old couple or a widow with one or perhaps two children.
The object is apparently to lessen the burden of the rent.
As previously stated, actual overcrowding of sleeping
rooms or combined living and sleeping rooms is found from time
to time in varying degrees of seriousness, and the tenants find
great difficulty to obtain larger and better accommodation, at
a rent which he can afford to pay. Such accommodation is
scarce, and there is an unwillingness on the part of many landlords
to let their houses to tenants who have large families.
Another difficulty arises from the fact that a higher rent
is usually asked for a fresh flat even of the same accommodation
where the house has become decontrolled under the Rent
Restriction Acts.
The abatement of overcrowding by the mere service of
statutory notice has been difficult and frequently futile. There
is a reshuffling of the accommodation, but the old conditions
frequently recur.
There is no doubt that there is a greater demand for all
the above types of houses than that which is met by the supply,
but it is difficult to see by whom such accommodation will be
provided, as in addition to the fact that such an enterprise would
show a financial deficit, the land in the borough is practically
all built upon.
The average wage of a skilled artisan is about £3 5s. to
£4 weekly, while the unskilled man seems to receive anything
from £2 5s. to £2 15s. per week. These classes of the population,
occupying pre-war constructed flats and half-houses under the
protection of the rent restriction Acts are just able to pay the
present rents where they have been adjusted so as to include
only the legal increases under the Acts. I am informed that
artisans' houses which are let at pre-war rents, notwithstanding
the additional 40% allowed by the Rent Restriction Acts, are
not a paying proposition, and private enterprise is not likely to
provide under present conditions, additional accommodation of
the type mentioned above.
Although the Rent Restriction Acts are not in the strict
sense of the word, Public Health Acts, they have a very close
bearing upon our work. It is obvious that many people will not
be able to pav more rent, and the only alternative, if an increased
demand be made, will be to reduce the amount of the
accommodation with resultant overcrowding.