View report page

17 1930
materially affect the housing conditions in that particular borough.
It is only by means of a large comprehensive scheme that the
question can be approached.
The Corporation of Acton has erected 320 houses in East
Acton, and has converted some houses into flats; it is also contemplating
the erection of flats on the Friars Estate. The erection
of these house.s is a gesture and shows the sincere desire of the
Corporation to do as much as it possibly can to relieve any
housing shortage, but it cannot be contended that it is a serious
contribution towards the provision of even one type of house.
Some persons have been able to obtain a better house at a rent
below that which it is possible for private enterprise to provide.
The houses vacated by the fortunate tenants have been immediately
taken by others, who in most cases previously lived outside
the district. Any new houses for the unskilled labourer and even
for the artisan must be subsidised, for private enterprise will not
build houses of this type. In a self-contained district, formerly
there was an inducement to the local authority to erect houses
for the employees in local factories, but the Local Government
Act, 1929, has removed even that inducement. It profits a local
authority very little to have new industries in its area; but apart
from any such consideration, the reason why overcrowding has
not been abated is not far to seek. Overcrowding is not due
entirely or even primarily to a scarcity of houses. The causes
of overcrowding are social and economic. In most cases of
overcrowding which we come acro.ss, the rent for better and more
accommodation cannot be paid. If the house is not controlled
the average weekly rent for a three-roomed flat is 15/- to 20/-,
and for a four-roomed one is 20/- to 30/-. For some families,
even a four-roomed flat is not sufficient, and unfortunately these
are the families which cannot afford a higher rent. Low wages
and large families generally go together, and therefore, the
smaller the house, the larger the family. These families for some
reason or another, are compelled to accept what accommodation
is offered, and for sheer profiteering commend us to the man of
small means or of no means at all, who has rented a house which
can be sub-let. An instance very recently came to our notice.
A man bought a house for a comparatively small sum. He
immediately sub-let it to eight different families, and two other
persons rented the yard. He was receiving over £7 a week from
the sub-tenants. The rooms were not legally overcrowded, but
sanitary notices had to be served. These people would never
accept the accommodation for the rent which they paid unless
circumstances compelled them and they were unable to obtain
other rooms. It has to be admitted that these are in many ways
undesirable tenants and it is not strange that landlords refuse
them as tenants. Occasionally we come across instances of
overcrowding, where the tenants refuse better accommodation
although they can afford to pay for it. Usually the.se people are