Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Social Movements - 1. Labour Questions and Social politics - Housing Problem. By G. H. von Koch
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v. social movements.
market. The antiquated Buildings Statute (applying to all the towns of
Sweden) and the Statute of Public Health are in process of revision, and
question of a tax on unearned increment has been repeatedly investigated.;
The State has also contributed by indirect modes to the solution of the
housing problem. Here it must suffice to mention that in 1912 there was
appointed a Dwellings Committee in order to investigate the housing
problem in its relation to the poorer classes, and the basis of that
investigation to bring forward proposals for measures on the part of the State. In
connection with this investigation, a comprehensive census of dwellings
embracing both town and country has been set on foot by the Social
Board on the basis of the census-papers of 1913 and 1914. State
measures more directly bearing on the housing problem are those for
promoting the "egna hem" ("own home") movement (see below), and for
providing dwellings for certain officials in the State offices.
As regards dwellings erected by the State for the benefit of officials in the
State employ, it is the State railways that have taken the lead. Dwellings for
the regular staff of both higher and lower grades have been provided (1) in
houses actually owned by the State railways, (2) in buildings belonging to the
Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Fund of those railways and rented by the
railways, and (3) in other rented premises. The costs of the former class of
dwellings were estimated at the beginning of 1912 at about 22 million kronor (out
of which 111!i million fall to overseers and line-men), and for the latter at
close on 6 millions. Out of the higher-grade officials there live in these
dwellings 379, or 38"i %, and out of the lower-grade officials 5 322, or 45"2 % of
the total number.
The Pilot, Customs, and Telegraph Services and the Forest Service have also
to a great or less extent provided dwellings for their officials.
Communal Measures. It is obvious that the communes are bound
to take a great interest in the solution of the housing problem.
High rents and insanitary dwellings effect the economy and health of the
people, burden sick-relief and poor-relief expenditure, and diminish
efficiency of work and ability to pay taxes. As a matter of fact, the
larger towns particularly, where the rents are usually most expensive,
have adopted a number of measures for procuring cheap dwellings,
although these dwellings have as a rule not sufficed. The principal of these
measures shall be recited below.
Censuses of dwellings, comprising all the dwellings within the purlieus of the
city have been set on foot in Stockholm on eight different occasions, and are
henceforward to be repeated every five years. At Gothenburg a census of this
kind was made for the first time in 1905.
Investigations of dwellings with the object of ascertaining the conditions under
which the poorer classes live have been instituted at Stockholm (in il896 and
1902), Gothenburg (in 1889 and 1911), Örebro, Karlskrona, Uppsala, Linköping,
Nyköping, Vänersborg, and Limhamn.
Inspection of dwellings as regards the poorer classes occurs, but only in a
few towns. Only in four towns — Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, and Borås
— are special officials appointed for the purpose. At Lund and Norrköping a
resolution has been passed to appoint special female inspectors of dwellings,
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