The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1921. TENANCY AND SALE.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 649, 12 July 1921, Page 4

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons.

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1921. TENANCY AND SALE.

“We nothing extenuate, nor aught set j down in malice.”

In the coui’se of conversation with a land agent regarding the demand for houses, a representative of the Auckland Star had a little light thrown upon the effect of recent legislation. “What is the use of wasting, time trying to effect sales of houses?” he said. “Unless a place is empty, you generally have all your trouble for nothing. It is simply impossible, under the present housing legislation to give possession to a purchaser if the dwelling is occupied by a tenant with a family of young children. The duty of deciding upon which side the hardship lies is thrown upon the magistrate, and they have practically ruled, by the decisions given, that if a man buys a house occupied by a tenant with a young family h,e takes the risk., Unless a house is kept empty, we agents are not anxious to undertake its sale. This is the reason why at the present time there are some hundreds of houses kept empty in and around Auckland. The owner who wants to sell dare not let a house for even temporary possession, as experience has taugth him the difficulty there is t give the purchaser possession. This, of course, is unfortunate, when houses are so scarce, but intending sellers decline to let their places. The

trouble is that with money wanted by commercial firms at 7% per cent., there is no inducement for any one to build houses to let on a 7 per cent, rent basis,”