FAIR RENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 14

FAIR RENTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —"Civil Servant" very truly states that thousands of our unfortunate citizens would be pleased to sign a petition praying for reasonable treatment in rent charged. Your correspondent speaks of a tenant who is paying £3 10s a week and making £12. This opportunity is being seized upon by those who have bought up old properties which in normal times would let at £2 5s to £3 a week. In these abnormal times, however, such an old dwelling instead of being condemned is worth £5 a week. The house is farmed out to tenants after three or four of the best rooms have been reserved for the landlord. The rooms left for disposal, most of which are without a fireplace, are netting a nice little return of from £14 to £17 a week, the usual price charged being from £1 to £2 5s for a single room.

Some two or three years ago a survey was made of all houses and rents charged in the city. This revealed a most alarming state of affairs. The newly appointed Government has done

quite a lot towards helping these unfortunate houseseekers. What action has been taken by the City Council since that survey was made? A list of some of the worst cases should be prepared and if necessary published, showing the class of rooms and the rents charged. Such a method would meet with the approval of all fair-minded roomletters.—l am etc., ONE OF THE VICTIMS.