FIVE YEARS RENT-FREE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 615, 18 March 1929, Page 11

FIVE YEARS RENT-FREE

MAN AFRAID TO ENTER OWN HOUSE IDEAL LANDLORD FOUND ' •*I have never known such, an extraordinary position,” declarej. Judge Crawford at Edmonton (LoiJdon) County Court, after he had heard the following story: In 1923, Mr. Arthur Eames, of Ponders End, bought a house in Edmoniotj, with the intention that his brother should occupy itDuring the three or four days that the house was empty, awaiting the arrival of the furniture, the windows oil the ground floor were broken, thti Unemployed Association took forcible possession, and put in a Mr. and Mrs. Whybrow and their family as tenants. Mr. Ernes called at the house the next day, hut a mob of unemployed were gathered outside, and because of their menacing attitude (it wag stated) he was afraid to turn this family out. Mr. Emes’s brother had t.o be content with one upstairs room. Promises Broken Later Mr. and Mrs. WhybroW, promised to leave at the earliest opportunity, and the Unemployed Association promised to reimburse Ernes for any financial loss. Neither of these promises had been kepi, said Mr. Emes’s solicitor. Mr. Whybrow died in 1927, and h4s widow and family had remained rd possession ever since. During the five years they had not paid a penny in rent, although during th "hole of that period Mr. Ernes had to pay ground rent and had had to carry out extensive repairs. Thai arrears of rent amounted to over £IS(L It was stated that Mrs. Whybrow ! had been summoned at Tottenham Police Court for failing to pay her rates. She received £1 4s by way of pension, 7s 6d in relief from the guardians and also had two lodgers. The judge said Mr. Ernes appeared to be the ideal landlord. Not only had he allowed Mrs. Whybrow to live i« the house for five years without pay* ing rent, but even now he was rat claiming the arrears of rent to which he was entitled. “Landlords are a most generoiree class and belong to the best type at creditors as a rule,” he added. “Tenants owe them large sums cj* money, and it is invariably the case that the landlords do not take legal proceedings until the last minute, ar in this case. I regard this particuTSf class of case as a scandal, and tbp plaintiff appears to be the ideal lardlord.” Judgment ws given for H Msion in 28 days. _____