RENT PROFITEERING.

Evening Star, Issue 17284, 24 February 1920, Page 6

RENT PROFITEERING.

TO THIS EDITOR. Sir, —I desire to call attention, through your newspaper, to tho great greed for money which has taken possession of certain landlords, and I think it is time some measure was brought forward to stop tho profiteering in houses to rent. I will giv o three instances which I will vouch for aa correct. No. I.—House of five rooms, all small, bad repair, and dirty, faded wallpaper; walls could not have been papered for at least 10 years past; house over 30 years old; rent 255; pre-war il. would have been 12s. No. 2.—House of five rooms, down a right-of-way: borer from floor to ceiling; walls could be pushed in; house not safe to live in; the borer is so bad it is.a danger to surrounding properties; rent 20s, should be 9s. No. 3.—House of six rooms; over 35 years old ; was rented until recently for 20s/ The landlord has put in electric light, and done a few repairs, which, together, would not cost more .than £SO; he has raised the rent to 30s, which means he gets 50 per cent, interest on his repair cost. It seems to me something is wrong when these sort of things can be done in broad davlight, and the Government and City Council look on and wink. Who can blame the working man for getting dissatisfied with his lot?. I would propose, sir. that the. City Council have a special rate for rented houses, and rate the landlords for all the money received over 8 per cent. ; and I am sure if that were done at present we would be able to givo any amount of money to the Corporation employees as the baby bonus. Trusting this note will catch the eye of the unjust stewards, and that thoy will take a pull-in.—l am, etc., TnuTiirrL.