RENTING OF HOUSES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 May 1937, Page 4

RENTING OF HOUSES.

The public generally will. await with interest the success or otherwise of the Government housing scheme. As far as' the average private owner is concerned, the renting of houses is not generally satisfactory, and the experience of Masterton in this connection is that of the Dominion as a whole. There is a certain type of tenant, and often very numerous, who not only pays little or none'' of the rent due for the occupation of a house, but destroys property as well. Instances have been known in Masterton in which not only board fences but the flooring of the house itself have been used for firing. On the other hand, there is to be found the tenant who has a pride in the house he rents, and takes care of it, keeps the garden and lawns in good order, generally enhancing its value. Masterton has had experience of this class of tenant also. In this connection there are cases on record in Masterton where tenants who have carried out this commendable policy have been penalised by having their rent raised. Needless to say, the landlord soon suffers the loss of a good tenant, who hesitates to improve the surroundings of the next house he occupies lest he have the experience repeated. The wise owner, however, will encourage the occupancy of his house by such a tenant. * During the slump period many landlords had a very lean time in the matter of rents, and in a number of instances fifty to seventy-five per cent of the annual rents were not collectable, and it would be a very hardhearted owner who would turn women and children into the street. The legislation governing the tenancy of rented houses, however, needs revision in order to give an owner reasonable control of his property.