Tenement

A tenement refers to a residential building divided into multiple rental units, typically housing several families or individuals. Historically, many tenements were crowded, aging structures with limited upkeep, especially in fast-growing industrial cities. During the 19th century, rapid urbanization in places such as New York, London, and Glasgow created a huge demand for inexpensive accommodation. Builders responded by constructing multi-storey blocks with very small rooms, shared sanitation facilities, and inadequate light and ventilation. For many working-class or immigrant households, these buildings were the only affordable options. Today, the term “tenement” can still describe older, low-cost urban housing, though its meaning varies by region. In some places—Scotland, for instance—a tenement simply refers to a building divided into apartments and does not imply poor living conditions.

Example: Imagine a family relocating to New York in the early 1900s for factory employment. They might rent a compact two-room apartment in a building crowded with dozens of similar households. Bathrooms could be shared by all residents on a floor, common areas might be cramped and poorly ventilated, and rent would be modest compared with other housing. Such living arrangements were typical for many newly arrived or low-income families during the industrial expansion.