HOUSE SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23057, 7 June 1938, Page 15

HOUSE SHORTAGE

SLIGHT EASING fiiSj i ~~ • more state dwellings rentals under the act fewer possession claims 1 Some slight easing in the acuteness of the housing shortage is noted by officers 'of the Labour Department reiponsible for the administration of the I Fair Rents Act. The improving trend : H {g attributed to the rapid rate at which State houses are becoming available to tenants. It is pointed out, however, that the leeway to be made up before the situation becomes norJ§ mal is still very largo. One significant aspect is that there ?! has been a distinct drop in the claims ?• under the Act for possession of pre- » raises, and there have been recent cases where tenants threatened with dispossession have been able to secure State houses. Rents 'are still being 1 adjusted by magistrates or by agree- •; merit under the supervision and with . the assent of an inspector of factories, but the number of such cases has also dropped yery substantially. Length of Agreements What is not generally appreciated by the public is that orders or agreements fixing rentals under the Act are for terms, the maximum period fij being a year. At the expiration of the agreement or order, if there is not a renewal under the Act, the rent re--1 verts to the basic rent, that is, the rent ruling at the time of the coming into effect of the legislation. More|j over, agreements or orders remain in force only during the tenancy of the ff particular tenant. Stabilisation of Bents ' * Where rents under an agreement or order have been varied from the basic rent neglect to obtain a statutory renewal might prove expensive to one of the two parties thereunder. There, have already been claims by tentnts against landlords for refunds of

v rent paid in excess of the basic rent from the time of the expiry of an | order or agreement. Most of the apt' plications for renewal of agreements or orders have been granted on the *|f basis of the reviewed rent. ;i Generally speaking, it now appears V: that the bulk of applications for revision of rentals under existing conditions has been brought, claims for possession will progressively diminish as the Rousing shortage eases, and the 1 »ffect of renewal of agreements or orders so far granted is in the direc-.-s tion of the stabilisation of rents at : current levels.