Cost of living in German towns

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 866449027

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-93831

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Cost of living in German towns

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Stat. Off.

Year of publication:: 1908

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (LXI, 548 Seiten)

Collection:: Economics Books

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266 HAMBURG. classes of the population, but chiefly of households of limited means. These investigations were made in 1868, 1874, 1882, 1890, and 1901. Normal families were chosen—i.e. such families as used their dwellings purely for habitation and in which no lodgers or other persons lived who might be supposed to contribute to the rent—and on the last occasion 55,513 individual cases were classified. The following were the results arrived at :— Income Class. From £45 to £60 (inclusive) „ £60 „ £80 „ £80 „ £120 „ £120 to £150 „ £150 „ £180 „ £180,, 2210 „ £210 „ £240 ,, £240 „£300 ,, £300 „2600 ,, £600 „21,500 „ £1,500 to £3,000 Over £3,000 Percentage of Income Expended on Rent in 1868. 19-81 19- 89 20- 27 19-45 19-59 19-28 18-89 18-55 15-99 11-51 6-68 372 1874. 20- 87 21- 13 20-88 19-21 19-03 18-17 17 38 17-35 15-48 10-75 7-44 3 78 1882. 21-86 18-94 1950 18-78 17-90 18 33 17-22 1833 1672 42 23 8-06 3-87 1891. 2412 2222 2209 20-81 19-15 18-71 17-88 17-71 15-12 1038 6-21 3-05 1901. 24-67 23-19 2161 2053 19-25 18-31 17-36 16-69 1430 9-61 5-99 3 04 These figures seem to show that the greatest pressure falls upon incomes of 305. per week and under, and that this pressure has increased more during the last 20 years covered by the return than during the preceding period. Most working-class tenancies are either monthly or quarterly, but fortnightly and weekly tenancies are not rare. The rent as a rule includes waiter and sometimes chimney sweeping, but the town collects all house refuse. The cleaning of the stairs and landings is in the newer property done by the tenants in turn. Printed contracts of tenancy are customary, and both husband and wife are required to sign, thus being made equally responsible for rent and for the observance of all conditions imposed. A common clause seldom met with elsewhere runs : “ The tenant undertakes to ventilate the rooms thoroughly at all times.” Payment of the rent in advance is not usually required, but the deposit of 10s. or more as security is often insisted on. In a large town like Hamburg house ownership affords an attractive channel for investment and speculation. In the year 1902 the 22,259 plots built upon were owned by 15,378 persons, and of the latter 12,249 or 80 per cent, owned one property each. Where the owner does not live on the premises he is often represented by a deputy known as the “ Vice,” who is charged with full powers. It is a common thing for working-class families to take lodgers ; the high rents and the ample size of so many of their dwellings encourage the practice. Of 132,056 dwellings used exclusively for habitation enumerated at the Census of 1900, 26,676 or 22 per cent, contained lodgers, but in New Town North the percentage was 30'1 and in St. George North 28"6. The usual charge for single men is 3s., 3s. 6d., or 4s. per week according to the locality and class of room, breakfast coffee being here included. No sanction is needed from the municipal authorities to the taking of lodgers except in the case of professional lodging- houses. House owners, however, generally stipulate in the rent contract that lodgers may not be taken without their consent. The State of Hamburg has hitherto refrained from competing with private adventure in the provision of working-class dwellings, yet it has during recent years put in force various positive measures for ameliorating the housing of the people. Its methods of procedure are (1) the clearance of insanitary property by carefully devised improvement schemes, (2) the disposal of cleared areas for the erection of improved dwellings to accommodate as far as possible the population displaced, (3) the encouragement of societies and individuals interested in the building of small dwellings, (4) the improvement of the means of communication with outside districts, (5) the careful enforcement of building and sanitary bye-laws revised from time to time according to altering conditions, and (6) an efficient system of house inspection.

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