VACANT HOUSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26625, 22 November 1947, Page 6

VACANT HOUSES

POSITION IN DUNEDIN

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

“ 1 know of only isolated cases in which houses have been lying vacant in Dunedin for any lengthy period, said a Dunedin businessman closely connected with property transactions when he was asked yesterday to comment on the Government’s proposed legislation providing, for the compulsory letting of unoccupied dwellings. “I do not think that any property owner is holding a home vacant wilfully,” he said. The businessman added that there were more cases of families living together under the. same roof than ever before, and something would have to be done to improve the'existing conditions, but it was his opinion that the introduction of such legislation was not on the correct, lines. “For one thing,” he said, “ it is making inroads on the rights of the individual. Necessary Delays

Instances in which houses might be vacant for a period, and thought by members of the public to be lying unused without good reason, were mentioned by the businessman. The commonest case was that in which a house had been sold and the transaction was in the hands of the Land Sales Committee, he said. Often long periods elapsed before such deals were completed, and things might be further delayed by the lodging of an appeal to the Land Sales Court. There was also the case of furnished houses, he said. Furniture sometimes has a sentimental value, as well as a monetary value. Any damage done would have the effect of prejudicing owners against legislation of this nature, so that the effect would ultimately be to the disadvantage of the serviceman who is intended to benefit. A person owning the property should have some say in the choice of his tenant.” Other Instances Another point mentioned was that a house might be lying vacant because of its condition. The owner might know that the cost of repairs would be out of proportion to the value of the property. The speaker knew of one such dwelling in Dunedin which could not be demolished because it served as a retaining wall for an attached dwelling. It was not fit for occupation, hdwever. Several houses were vacant on farm properties outside Dunedin which owners would like to see occupied, the speaker added. A .serviceman, his wife and family living in one room in the city had recently been shown one of these cottages, but he had preferred to wait until he found something more suitable in the city.