State House Rents

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 8

State House Rents

Sir.—A war widow who has been a tenant of a State, house in Christchurch for the last 19 years has recently been advised by the State Advances Corporation that as from June 23 her weekly rental will be Increased by 10s. The reason given by the corporation for this increase is that the widow’s daughter, who has been working for some years, is in a position to contribute more towards her mother's income Can you advise me? Is it within the power of the State Advances Corporation to decide what a mother will charge her daughter for board and on this basis adjust the rent accordingly? In the event of ■ the daughter leaving home, would the rent revert to the lower level?— Yours, etc, L.B. June 27, 1961. [The manager of the Christchurch branch of the State, Advances Corporation (Mr_ H. R. McKenzie) said: "After 1950 there were two

rental scales depending upon the date of commencement of tenancy. Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1065, provided the powers to level both scales at the higher rent after January 1, 1958. Rental increases were, however, not enforced in cases where hardship would result: but as altered family circumstances brought about increased household Income, these cases were reviewed."]