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both directions without invalidating the principle, and this is probably
the proportion expended by the better classes ; but from information
acquired during the inspection of houses registered under the bye.
laws for Houses let in Lodgings, it appears that those persons who
are, as it were, on the verge of overcrowding, pay for their housing
accommodation at the rate of about 2/6 for each room per week, that
is to say, their rent fluctuates between one.fourth and one.sixth of
their income. If these persons could obtain accommodation at a
cheaper rate, no doubt they would get it, therefore, 2/6 may be taken
as the maximum amount which can be paid by the poor without
forcing them into a state of overcrowding, even on the low standard
taken above. This is important as showing that housing accommodation
if provided by the local authority must be at a lower rate than
this, if overcrowding is to be diminished.
As the crux of the whole matter appears to me to be the crowding
together of immense numbers of the London population in an
unhealthy manner, because they cannot afford more healthy (less
crowded) accommodation, while the cost of housing bears the present
relation to their incomes, it is quite clear that the housing of the poor
will not be satisfactorily accomplished unless this relation is altered,
and healthy housing provided within the means of the classes referred
to, that is, at a cost which bears much the same proportion, if not
less, to their total income as that amongst the better classes. As a
provisional statement, I should say that accommodation should not
be more than from 1/6 to 2/. per room per week to attract " the poor
classes," and dwellings for the " very poor " should not exceed 1/. to
1/6 per week.
WHAT MAY BE DONE UNDER PART III. OP THE
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACTS.
A Local Authority having adopted Part III. of the Act may in
execution thereof:
1. Purchase land for the erection of dwelling houses for the
Working Classes.