SCARCITY OF HOUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 85, 11 April 1931, Page 11

SCARCITY OF HOUSES.

BEMAJTD EXCEEDS SUPPLY. INCREASE EST RENTALS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Friday. A keen demand for houses continues to be made in Napier, despite the fact that a number of those damaged by the earthquake have been repaired. Rents have risen in proportion to the demand, but it cannot be said that landlords had taken advantage of the scarcity of houses to raise • rents', declared a local land agent. s \ -"Whether the rise in house rents is a 'temporary one or is permanent is a matter of opinion," said the land agent. "It seems quite likely it will be merely of a temporary nature, and that as Napier houses are repaired, chimneys re-erected, and the places made generally habitable, there will not be such a scarcity and rents therefore will fall. Those occupiers who consider landlords are taking advantage of the scarcity of houses to increase rentals would do well to consider that in practically every instance it is the property owner rather than the tenant who has lost most heavily as a result of the earthquake. In the case of shops the tenant has often been unfortunate in losing stock valued at a considerable sum, but it cannot be said that the house tenant has lost very heavily. On the other hand 1 , it iu incumbent upon the owner to restore damaged ■ chimneys and to otherwise make his house fit for habitation." Continuing, the agent said houses on the hills appeared to- be scarcer than thoSe 011 the flat, and cases were known where residents were prepared to pay increased rents for houses in , central positions on the hills.