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46
Lower Ward :—
Number of houses from which returns were received... 500
Population of these houses = 5 78 per house.
Number of bouses intended for one family and inhabited
by one family 420
Number of bouses intended for one family and inhabited
by more than one family 80
Number of inhabited houses in the Ward 4,210
„ „ tenements „ 740
Total 4,950
Applying the above figures to this number of houses:—
Population of Ward 26.405
Number of houses intended for one family and inhabited
by one family 3,336
Number of bouses intended for one family and inhabited
by more than one family 1,614
Number of houses calculated to be overcrowded 267
During the past five years, many of the houses in the more
densely populated districts have fallen into a condition of serious disrepair.
It is doubtful whether many of them will be considered worth the
cost of renovating, or whether the owners will not elect to have them
declared unfit for human habitation. The Ministry of Health, in their
Manual on Unfit Houses and Unhealthy Areas, Vol. 1, have defined
in moderate terms the conditions that they consider a minimum constituting
a house fit for human habitation. Applying this measure of fitness for
human habitation to the smaller houses in Tottenham, it would not be
an extravagant estimate to declare that 25 to 50% are fit for condemnation.
On the item of dampness alone, there is sufficient work to keep
the Public Health staff engaged for several years issuing notices and
supervising renovations, and very many houses could not properly be
described as in good general repair. Reconstruction with a view to
giving better ventilation and lighting, adequate washing facilities and
other amenities should be insisted upon, as affording the minimum that
reasonably is required for healthy living. Many houses are in such a