Social and Economic Conditions in Clearance Areas, 1981

The main purpose of the survey is to examine re-development areas - the 'grey' dwellings and residential quarters - and to compare these quarters with the good and acceptable dwellings on one hand and, on the other hand, with the poorest dwellings which are ripe for condem- nation - the so-called 'black' residential quarters. #The result of the analyses shows that the 'grey' dwellings and their residents rank between the 'good' and the 'black' ones in most respects. There are overlapping areas, but in some respects the three categories are rather uniform, e.g. as regards income. In the good dwellings, the number of people with high incomes is only slightly higher than the number of people with low in- comes, and the difference disappears when tax has been deducted. #In some respects the quality of the dwelling is good, e.g. as regards number of rooms. It is mainly two or three-room flats with 1 or 2 residents, irrespective of other aspects of the quality of the dwelling. However, the older the dwellings are, the poorer is the quality (as regards toilet facilities, num- ber of rooms, bath and central heating). Complaints about the dwelling reflects the quality in that the residents in the poor dwellings miss elementary facilities whereas people in the good dwellings have more advanced demands and complain about shopping facilities. #Private initiative and self-activity increase along with the de- crease in standard. #Ownership of summer cottage is equally widespread in the three categories, but ownership of cars and telephones is more widespread in the good dwellings and decreases as the quality de- creases. #Every fifth family in the survey would like to move from the good dwellings - because they are too small - but twice as many want to get away from the 'black' areas - because they are too bad. Half of the respondents would like to get a single-family house, the other half would like a flat in a block of flats, but no one wants a flat in a high-rise block. #The number of human contacts and the feeling of attachment to the quarter is highest in the 'black' areas. #To a large extent the quality of the dwelling is reflected in the housing expenses. In the 'black' areas half the residents pay less than 500 D. Kr. in rent a month, in the grey areas one third pay less than 500 D. Kr. The residents are willing to pay a higher rent if improvements are carried out in the dwellings. #The poorer the quality of the dwelling is the greater are the expectations of the residents as regards re-development leading to their becoming better off socially and financially. Likewise, there is a negative attitude towards municipal decisions and a positive attitude as regards fighting against development plans which the residents are not interested in