Fxtent and Character off Accormodation.
The Council commenced its housing operations in 1892 and the a-
mount of work undertaken in subsequent years was such as to induce the
Council in 19ol to form a housing department. The Housing Manager, the
head of this department, is responsible to the Council for the entire
management of its dwellings, including the effecting of lettings, the
collection of rents, and the execution of the necessary repairs, the
staff of surveyors, clerks, rent collectors, guperintendents, caretak-
ers and workmen of various grades mumbers over 250.
The dwellings opened by the Council up to March 31, 19c9, comprise
50 estates, situated in various parts of London and its suburbs. The
estates in the central parts or London, where land is expensivm he
population denne, are ecesr
of th ards and occasionally gard-
to
h
ens attached. Here each tenant has a flat, approached by a cormon
staircase, and contáining in itself the usual sanitary and other neces-
Sabies. The estates in the suburban districts, however, are developed
by the erection of cottages, each tenant having his own house approach
ed direct from the road, and also a private garden both at the front
and at the back of the house.
land, it is possible on these suburban estates to erect houses that can
be let at a rent per room as low, and sometimes lower than the rent per
room charged at the block dwellings situated in the central parts. Two
of the esta tes are situated on or near the Council's electric tramway
routes and x the houses are consequently cccupied largely by workmen
who make use of the tranray each day in order to get to their places of
employment, and who wrould otherwise have to live in the congested
tricts nearer the centre of London.
ilities for cheap and quick transit continue to improve, many more art-
izans who at present live near the centre will move into the suburbs,
where their fanilies can enjoy healthier surroundings.
at the present time four large suburban estates, comprising altogether
about 340 acres, which are being developed by the erection of cottages.
The totel number of persons for vihom accomodation has been pro-
vided in the Council's dwellings up to Mairch 31, 1909, calculated on
the basis of two persons per room, is 46,310. The accomodation con-
sists or 8,428 teneIen cc awellings, 1,76
contain sleeping acconmodations in cubicles the charge for a cubicle
being 6d. and 7d. a night.
are provided for the use of the inmates and the houses also contain
lavatories, baths, wash-houses, lockers for storing parcels, etc.
the dining room cookedd and uncooked food may be purchased at low prices,
and there are also kitcheners and a large hot plate at which the in-
mates may cook their food.
home for men whose circumstances do not pernit them to pay for furnish-
ing and keeping a hone of their own
The total capital expended on the provision of vorking class
dwellings up to March 31, 1909, was 2,674,209, and the gross rental
value of dwellings already completed is about 186,096:13:7 per annun.
Ovring chiefly to the lower price of the
It is anti.cipated that as the f'ac-
The Council has
cottages ues
Large dining, smoking, and reading roons
In
These lodging houses provide a comfortable
Statement prepared by the Clerk of the London County Council.
