FAIR RENT BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 3

FAIR RENT BILL

Sir,—i must compliment you on the leading articlo of yesterday's issue, showing tuo injustice of this so-cMled Fair Kent Bill, which, if passed, allowing only S per cent, gross on the capital value, will mean that a largo number of hard struggling landlords who have to pay .6 per cent, interest on mortgage on 75 per cent, of the value of tneir properties will soon have to forfeit tlicir little hard earnings. Take, for instance, a house of -1 rooms, value -1:600, let at 17s. fid. per week, 103. p.a.. which is the rental I aud others like myself are receiving. I maintain that house (property should bring in 10 per cent, gross, that is to net G per cent, likewise, tho upkeep of small houses up to (I rooms costs more in proportion to larger houses. As an example, the drains of a small house are as costly as one let at «CIOO per annum. Within the last six months I have had the drain blocked on two occasions at a 4-roomed house. The life of spouting and downpipes, with the inferior iron now supplied, is about 9 years; galvanised iron baths, hot water service tank, taps, and other sundries have to be renewed about the same period. Painting outside every four years. As to papering, the longest time a tenant will keep the paper intact on tho walls is three years. L have had to paper rooms twice in six months; that is when a tenant has left the house at-a moment's notice with rent owing. Sir, T maintain the tenant in possession is the actual owner as lie - remains in the house so long as it suits him, for should -the landlord require the house, he is asked to givo his reasons and must take action through tho S.M. Court—a process which means two or three months' lost rent.

Inspectors we could dispense with, as they allow tins, bottles, rags and other refuse to accumulate, then when tho tenant leaves, notice is served by the City Council on the landlord to removo this, besides tho Tubbis'n which has accumulated in the house. This means cartage, first load, tiris, etc. ,to Jam-Tin Gully; second load, rags, .bones, etc., to tha destructor; third load, fish and other offal, which has to be dumped out to sea. and sometimes there is a fourth load. My case-is not exaggerated, btit facts. . •

On one 7-roomcd- house, lei; at 255. per week, it cost me over JilOO to exterminate the vermin. Another house of t rooms, let. at lGs.Gd., cost mo over J»0 lately. These pests aro carried by some tenants from house to house. As an old settler 1 have had to contend against three slumps—lßSo. ISSJO, and during the last strike. A number of properties on theso occasions fell into the mortgagee's hands. Now that the working class are fully employed and granted 10 per cent, bonus, they, and ivitli the assistance ol political agitators, are attempting to bring about the samo result. 1 would advise the tenants to leave well alone; take less pleasure, and purchase their own homes by paying „£2o deposit, and when he has reduced the mortgage to twothirds he can then obtain an advance under tho Government loan at per cent., which we landlords cannot obtain. To show what there is in house property, I own 0, unfortunately; my net profit for the last twelve months being Mi. I shall be asked how I have lived. My answer is, I am carrying on a .business and am 6i> years of age, and still going strong, but not a prohibitionist nor a wowser, but favour fi o'clock closing for publiclioiises. I write under a liom de plume; otherwise I should be attacked in the dark through the Press and thereby not able to deal direct with the replying correspondence.—l am, etc. . OLD SETTLER OF 187-1. U ellington, July 26, 101 G.