FAIR RENTS ACT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24483, 5 February 1945, Page 8

FAIR RENTS ACT

AUCKLAND LANDLADY FINED FIRST PROSECUTION OF KIND "The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, February 3. "This is the first prosecution of-its kind in Auckland and it is it will act as a warning to landlords who might be charging more rent than they' did pn September 1, 1942,” said Mr J. F. Hewitt, representing the Labour Department, when-Mrs E. M. Miller, of, 2 Crescent road, Parnell, pleaded guilty before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M.. to a charge of demanding and accepting as rent a sum that was irrecoverable by virtue of the Fair Rents Act, 1936. and contrary to the Stabilisation Regulations, Mr Hewitt said the time for warnings had passed and prosecutions would now follow. Defendant was the landlady of an apartment house, said Mr Hewitt. The basic rent of one of the - apartments was 27s 6d a week; In 1943 she had let it at 37s 6d a week, but after a com-, plaint had been made she reduced the amount to the basic rent and refunded the overcharge. She was interviewed in November. 1943, and told that further complaints would be regarded seriously. , . , A , In August, 1944, defendant charged a tenant 32s 6d and Is 6d extra for gas for the apartment, continued Mr Hewitt. The amount of the overcharge had been returned to the tenant, who was entitled to a refund of the excess for a period of up to six months. Defendant said she had been told by friends that she should get rpore for her apartments. She was a breadwinner and had lost money while rooms were idle and recently hdd tried to make it up. "There is a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a £2OO fine for this offence and if it is a continuing one there is an extra fine of £5 a day,” said the Magistrate. A fine of £lO was imposed.