Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890

The act followed the Housing of the Working Classes Act 1885 (48 & 49 Vict. c. 72), which had empowered local authorities to condemn slum housing as a public health measure, but no more. This act extended their powers, allowing them to also purchase the land and finance new housing. ==The act==

The act is made up of four parts and seven schedules: • Part 1: Unhealthy Areas • Part 2: Unhealthy Dwellings • Part 3: Working Class Lodging Houses • Part 4: Supplemental • First Schedule: A list of the names of relevant authorities • Second Schedule: Provisions for compulsory purchase • Third Schedule: Provisions for closing premises • Fourth and Fifth Schedule: A collection of forms to be used in applying the act • Sixth Schedule: Lists required byelaws that authorities need to enact. ==Implications==

This gave London County Council the legal power to compulsory buy land out of area and to construct tenements and housing estates. The powers under part 3 were extensive: allowing the council to: • lease land for the erection thereon of workmen's dwellings • itself undertake the erection of dwellings or the improvement or reconstruction of existing dwellings • fit up, furnish and maintain lodging working classes • make any necessary by-laws and regulations for the management and use of the lodging houses • sell dwellings or lodging houses established for seven years or upwards under Part III. of the Act whenever such dwellings or lodging houses are deemed by the Council and the Local Government Board to be unnecessary or too expensive to keep up. == Subsequent developments ==

The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. 55) amended the financial provisions of part 2 of the principal act. ==See also==