HOUSE RENTALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22603, 16 December 1936, Page 14

HOUSE RENTALS

WARNING BY MINISTER

EXCESSIVE RATES ALLEGED POWERS UNDER THE ACT "Evidence is accumulating that homeless people are being held to ransom by profiteers," stated the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. 'l'. Armstrong, yesterday, when lie said that apparently the housing shortage was being used by some house, owners to exploit people looking for homes. ' The Minister said there, was also evidence that rents far in excess of those allowed by the Fair Rents Act were being asked for vacant houses. Ho said the Act provided that it was illegal to require the payment of a premium for a vacant house to which the Act applied, and any such payment might be recovered by the tenant as a debt due to him by the landlord. Mr. Armstrong said he wished to draw attention to what was taking place, and lie was considering what steps should be taken to check what was being attempted to defeat the Act. In drawing the attention of prospective tenants to the provisions of the Act the Minister said it applied to future tenancies as well as to tenancies existing at the date of the passing of tin* Act, which, if course, did not apply where a house was let for the first time as a dwelling after the passing of the Act. He suggested that if anv tenant considered the rent asked was in excess of what he considered a fair rent for the premises, or if lie bad been asked to Jiay a premium in respect of the tenancy, he should consult. the local office of the Labour Department.