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38
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
The area of Deptford is 1,564 acres, and the estimated population
102,800 persons, giving an over-all density of 66 persons per acre.
Much of the property is old and exhibits the inherent structural
defects associated with age. The unsatisfactory housing conditions
are further aggravated by the use, without special adaptation, of most
of the houses for two or more tenants. The major problem that faces
us is the question of overcrowding which continues in an acute form,
and for which no solution has been found. It might be thought that,
as the population as revealed by the last census figures showed a
decrease, overcrowding would gradually find a natural solution. Any
improvement from this cause is negatived by the increase in the
number of families. During the last decennium this increase amounted
to 4.5 per cent., and there is now a total excess of 11,498 private
families over occupied buildings. It can be seen, therefore, how far
we are from attaining the ideal standard of one family to each house.
Nor is there any sign of probable improvement in the immediate future.
The subsidy in respect of the re-housing of overcrowded families is
limited only to those living in "improvement" and "clearance" areas,
a very small proportion of the total. It ignores entirely the relief of
overcrowding in the case of hundreds of families living more than three
persons per room in houses above the standard suitable for inclusion
in a clearance scheme. To relieve these we are now largely dependent
upon private enterprise—stimulated by Government guarantee against
loss in the case of building societies, etc.—to erect houses for letting.
Experience seems to point, however, to the fact that houses built by
private enterprise are practically entirely built for sale. Thus amongst
a total of 143 structurally separate flats and houses built by private
enterprise in Deptford during 1933, only 14 were built to let. The
general alleviation of overcrowding by this means would appear to be
purely illusory and, indeed, there is a possibility (if not a probability)
that conditions may get worse for, with the flow of time, families grow
more numerous and larger, their children older, and overcrowding more
inevitable.