390
NUREMBERG.
principles. The usual charge per head is from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per week, and
for the latter sum a breakfast of coffee and rolls is at times included. It is
evident that such charges as these can leave little or no profit, and it seems
questionable whether the tenants-in-chief often regard the matter from a strictly
commercial standpoint. Clear evidence exists that the Nuremberg worker
of the better class attaches great importance to having a house both ample in
size and attractive in appearance, and that the hope of lessening his rent by
taking lodgers often tempts him to take more rooms than he really needs.
A large number of the working-class houses are in the hands of small
owners, either private individuals or business people who live on the spot, and
who exercise control over the tenants and the due observance of their contract
obligations, for signed agreements are customary even in the case of the poorest
tenants. Where a landlord lives away he is frequently represented by a resident
agent, who receives his rent and exercises his authority. A very large amount
of house property, however, is owned by the great brewery companies of
Nuremberg and the adjoining town of Fürth. The system represented is the
English tied-house system, though on a larger scale. A beer licence is attached
to a portion of the lower flat only, but the brewery company has to purchase
the whole block of which the licensed premises form part. Hence there are
companies which, for the purpose of controlling the sale of beer in 50 houses,
have become owners of 500 dwellings. In such cases the rents are generally
moderate. Most frequently the properties have fallen into their hands as
reversionary mortgagees, though the direct purchase of licensed premises, with
their attached dwelling-houses, is not uncommon.
In appending the average rents of houses of different size, it should be
stated that the dwellings in the old part of the town, as being abnormal, have
been disregarded. In general the rents of these dwellings are lower than those
of modern dwellings outside the walls : but, on the other hand, the accom
modation is altogether inferior. As a rule there is a difference of Is. per week
between the two districts for a dwelling of three or four rooms. The kitchen,
which is essential in a Nuremberg dwelling, has been counted as a room,
though in very many cases its dimensions are so small that it cannot be used
for any other purpose than cooking. Indeed, the term commonly applied to
this apartment at Nuremberg is u cooking-room.” Houses of one room virtually
do not exist at all, and houses of two rooms (a living and bedroom and the
kitchen) are rare ; but the rents of such as exist vary from 2s. to 4s. per week.
Number of Rooms per Tenement.
Predominant Weekly Rent.
Three rooms (two rooms and kitchen)
Four rooms (three rooms and kitchen)
3s. 6c?. to 5s.
4s. 3c?. to 5s. 9d.
is 53.
Rent at Berlin being taken as 100, the corresponding figure for Nuremberg
No rates (save the charge for water) are included in the rent. State and
communal income tax is paid at Nuremberg on small incomes on the following
scale, the communal tax being at present 125 per cent, of the State tax, and
levied on the same assessment as the latter :—
Class.
Income.
State Income
Tax.
£25 or less ,
Over £25 but not over £37
„ £37 10s. but not over
„ £45 but not over £52
„ £52 10s. but not over
„ £60 but not over £70
» £70 „ „ £30
» £80 » „ £90
„ £90 „ £100
10s.
£45
10s.
C60
s. d.
0 6
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
8 0
10 0
Communal
Income Tax.
S. d.
0 7&
1 3
2 6
3 9
5 0
6 3
7 6
10 0
12 6
It should be added that the municipality issues cheap tramway tickets to
workpeople who live at a distance from their employment. For 6a. a month the