LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 6

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln to-night's "Post J read a letter headed "Houses iind 'Teiiautf,1' iv which the correspondent- criticises the above. There are always- two- sides to, every trouble: What type of lioiisc, au.l what typo of tenant occupies that, house, aud at what, rent?

There are .scores of landlords who have done well out. of uhl houses built thirty and more yciirs ago, and when houees were jii demand live and six years ago those owners'did well. Those who built years ago did so at a very low cost—timber and wages were at a. minimum. As time passed wages and timber went up, and anyone who liad a little ■'money to invest thought house speculation a good proposition. They accordingly built at a higher cost all -round, and naturally asked a higher rent to meet ■ the costs and the higher rates. " Now this "slump" is on people are making, a. great .noise about high rents, and think- they are badly treated. They do not wish to live in ' old-fashioned places—oh, dear, no; they want up-to-date conveniences of every kind at a low rental.' If they want a house at a low rental there are any amount to be had. Get iuto.. the tram* going out into the distant parts of Wellington, and there they will find scores at a low figure. With low rental they will have plenty of inconveniences. Now this sort of house is not exactly the sort desired. Whether a family can pay.or not, they as a. rule want the most they can get for the least payment. They set to work to beat down the landlord as soon after they are in a» possible. When in they have n fcelim' of possession. They don't want this anil they don't like that. The landlord gives in tor peace sake. -A.-' a mli: ilic wire is made to cause discord. The man of the house is ■ responsible, hut ho l.ikes a comfortable back seat and watches proceedings. "Deal, the. landlord is the ••ame. and •so it proceeds until at last (he finale comes and the exasperated owner arid his tenant part company. The next act, is the landlord finds his house dirty, chimneys nnswept, windows dirty, gas ' stove with .grease predominant, the coal range.'dirty and the. gratings burned out, paper'torn in every room, blinds torn, gas or electric burners taken away or useless, fences left to put their own nails in, garden dilapidated, hedges unpruncd, keys lost, - gate, awry—in fact everything neglected and not au inviting place for the next -would-be tenant. The -new tenant comes in and proves to be of another type altogether. Thankful

to get a nice bungalow house, sees what a bad tenant itf capable of, and proves hi.s or her worth. The place is cleaned .up, blinds mended, - hedges pruned, stoves cleaned, and after a week's • hard, work, in which the landlord has giveii his oilier aid, the whole place looks like a well- j kept home. Tin; foregoing is exactly what scores of landlords have experienced, and will experience again. Which, of the two kinds of tenants a landlord may have the fortune or misfortune to strike remains to be seen after he has dealt with them for a month or so. As a rule the tenant has ii<deep-rooted dislike to the owner of hi.s house' (there are. always exception's, - of .1 course).-and'has no irhieiam.e to'showing ' it in every way possible. At tin: pi wen I crisis scores of landlords have ahc-nly reduced the rents, and have done so four lo six months ago. iMany tenant.-* Ihink they have a soft thing on and have bu"un'.crying, out again for another "cut.'' They growl at the high rents, hut they have not reduced their expenditure in other ways. They still take long pleasure trip 3in their motor-cars, their visitors are .as • numerous as before, their appearance at, the pictures ami the races is still as before. Their only idea of economy is to "hit" at the' landlord. These people can afford everything but rent. They wish to be sheltered, cheaply, and save thenmoney for luxuries they could well do. without—l am. etc., ONE OF THIJ lIATIOU. 24th March.