HOUSE PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 131, 5 June 1919, Page 3

HOUSE PROBLEM

TO THE EDITOK,

Sir,—Permit me to make a few remarks in reply to your correspondent under the signature "Vox Popiiti." In the first place, why should a landlord be a charitable institution any more than a tenant? For years past, the landlord, with few exceptions, has been renting his houses at _ a considerable loss, the tenant extracting every i penny out of him he possibly could for repairs, socalled improvements, and by. Jea.ving the property to go into cheaper ones, which were generally in the hands of the mortgagee, who h"ad been compelled to take the property over to secure interest for his mortgage. This state of affairs has continued for the past ten years, but tho landlord can stand it no longer. For residential purposes as an investment he finds house property a complete failure. The Government allows everything to go up to 400 and' more per cent, for repairs to property; even interest is allowed to go up to the current rate, but if a landlord increases iris rent Is per week ho is branded as a rogue. What I would suggest is that men of "Vox Populi" type make an effort to be their own landlords, and by so doing and encouraging others to do likewise, will be the means, and the only way, of lowering the rents. Rest assured tenants are going to havo a. difficulty in obtaining houses to rent in the near future, as tho majority of landlords havo had enough.—l am,'etc.,

QUID PRO QUO.

3rd June,