Model Dwellings were buildings or estates constructed, mostly during the Victorian era, along philanthropic lines to provide decent accommodation for the working class. They were typically erected by private model dwellings companies and usually with the aim of making a return on investment hence the description of the movement as "five per cent philanthropy".[1] As such they were forerunners of modern-day municipal housing.
This is a list of still-standing model dwellings, organised by builder. Most of these companies are now defunct; a few, such as the Peabody Trust are still operating and building new accommodation. This list covers urban development on the principal of "five per cent philanthropy"; for communities built to house workers for a particular trade or employer, see model village or company town.
The Artizans' Company was established in 1867 by William Austin, becoming one of the largest of the model dwellings companies in the late Victorian era. It was best known for its large, low-rise, suburban estates in London. It was later subsumed into Sun Life Financial.
The Peabody Trust was set-up following a huge gift for the poor of London from the banker George Peabody. It became one of the biggest providers of model housing for the working classes.
The SICLC was one of the earliest model dwellings companies - it grew out of the Labourer's Friend Society into a housing provider in 1844 and built a number of properties in London.
