tenement

A tenement is a multi-occupancy urban dwelling, typically a low-cost housing option for workers, located in a single building or a block of buildings. The term originated from a legal or tenancy sense and later came to denote the building used for rental housing.

Tenements became common in Europe and North America during the 19th century as cities industrialized and populations grew. They were often tall and crowded, with small rooms, shared staircases and facilities, and limited light and ventilation. Designs sometimes included light wells or air shafts and, in later years, fireproofing or other safety measures added through reform efforts.

Social and health issues associated with tenements included overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and poor fire safety. Reform movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries sought to improve living conditions through housing legislation, building codes, and architectural innovations aimed at better light, air, and sanitation. In the United States, laws such as New York’s Tenement House Act of 1901 introduced requirements for indoor plumbing, better ventilation, and fireproof construction; similar reforms occurred in other cities and countries. Photojournalists and social reformers documented tenement life, influencing public opinion and policy.

Today, the term often survives in reference to older and historically significant multi-family rental housing. In many places, former tenements have been renovated or replaced with updated apartment buildings, with improved safety, utilities, and living standards, while some legacy tenement structures remain preserved as part of urban heritage.