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93
TABLE 27—continued.
(c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the
year 609
(2) Number of persons concerned in such cases 2,655
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling houses have
again become overcrowded (See page 88, para. 4) 1
TENEMENT BUILDINGS.
There are 154 tenement buildings in the Borough of Southwark,
containing approximately 9,014 dwellings.
Some of these are of modern design and require no comment; others
are badly planned, congested and badly arranged, both externally and
internally, resulting in numerous cases in dark staircases and landings,
and frequently dark rooms which have to be continuously lighted by
artificial means.
Many of these tenements have common waterclosets, wash-houses,
sinks and water supplies on the landings, all of which are supposed to be
kept clean by the tenants using them.
One of the most striking features of these buildings is the lack of
cleanliness of many of these common staircases, passages, landings,
wash-houses, etc. On enquiry, we found that this was frequently due to
the lack of proper supervision on the part of the caretaker, and the failure
to enforce the regulations made by the owners governing these buildings.
Another feature which was most noticeable, where lack of supervision
occurred, was the damage and defacement of the walls, etc., by children
and other persons. If owners would insist on cleansing being carried out
according to their rules, a very great improvement could be quickly
effected. It was found that where locks were provided for the waterclosets,
a greater degree of cleanliness prevailed.
It was also found that in many of these dwellings the owners had a
systematic method of cleansing and decorating the rooms; in others
there was a lack of any such system, and in these cases the landlord
usually depended upon complaints from the tenants, or else relied entirely
on sanitary notices being served. These latter are definitely the worst
type of landlords, and such buildings quickly depreciate and require
constant supervision.