"HOUSE FARMING"

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 83, 8 April 1938, Page 6

"HOUSE FARMING"

REAL EXPLOITATION

PROFIT IN SUB-LETTING

JAttached to the main report of the City Engineer upon the disclosures of tho housing survey is a single sheet hfeaded "House Farming." The term is applied-to persons who rent a house at a low weekly rental and stib-let roonis—farming the house, the' landlord, or the sub-tenants, according to the point .of view. v Only ip three of the cases cited was the "farmer" the owner, of' the premises. The margins between.' rentals paid and * rentals) gathered in'were astounding, particularly .when not one of the apartments'' of the. rented and sub-let buildings iri question came up to the minimum standards •of comfort, convenience, and the necessities for public health. Those margins vary from a mere pound or ■ two on a rental of' under £2. a week to £15 5s on a seven-guinea rent. ' Here are some of the cases given:— Capital Habit- Unsat. Bent Rents yaluc. able apart- paid. received. £ rooms, stents. £ s. d. £ s. d. Blount Victoria. 1225 10 8■ ; ii'lo 0 5 3 0 2225 18 18 3 10 ft . 9 8 G 3123 10 11 0 10 0 10 10 0 Lambton. 2025 10 «8 4 10 0 9 12 0 3SOO 21 21 9 0 0 18 17 6 5200 22 14 7 TO. 22 13 0 Thorndon. 1400 9 7 3 0 0 8' 2 6 4230 18 ,8 . 4 1,1 0 9 X 0 S9OO 20 11 i 8 10 0 17 3 6 There are twenty or more .similar examples on the sheet.