DWELLINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 6

DWELLINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

A GREAT DEMAND FOR SMALL COTTAGES.

For certain clauses of houses in Christchurch rents hare never been so. high as at present, nor has the demand 'been so great Thei'3 is quite a feverish desire to obtain .small cottages of four or five rooms. -"When one is advertised by the house agenfe 'there is a rush for. it, and the agenfe could let it many times over. In some instances, -peoiia ask it hat thea- names should be put down for a cottage, but the agents relfus-e to do this, as thev say that as isocm as one is vacated a tenant can be obtained before any particular person could even be communicated with. The greatest demand is lor workmen's cottages, at a rental of Bs, 10s, 15s, or 18s.a week. For. houses at £1 or £1 5s there is little or no demand, and many of them are vacant. As a rule, there is a .Scarcity of conveniences in the smaller houses; bait even this fact is overlooked by 'those who are seeking them. It seems to be w quasron of "Hobson's choice," those woo want cottages at a small rental having to take what, perhaps, they do not desire, or go without. .., . , ■■ Several house agents were interviewed on the aubiedt bv a representative of this journal on Saturday. "One of them.tbougw the demand for small cottages was caused by what might be called the. Itinerant wcrk-WrfpciuWiV-that'is, working men who oblain employment in the city for say a few months, and then pass on to othei rvlacM They have faroihee, and cannot Sford-'to go. into lodgings. They « there fore wcl'ling to pay a comparatively High ■cntfor-a'cobtage. This reacts on the -permanent recent* who need small ■ cottages. Thev feel the effect of the counter-pressure bv f>o floating population. .There, are many lecide readv to take any . house die mcKtV is Vacated, at, perhaps, a higher Sntal. In seme cases the landlords have mved the rerJtals, and. Wie rather than pay v.%at fehey think u too much, Sve joS int. houses larger than they need Very 'few small houses are. being built dt present, and the house.agents asem to think, tlyib'tho builders favour l:vrger : ones <,n acfW- of ttm:s and t;s nat.-d that the present abnormal demand fo. snvdl cottages will rot l:v.t. ;