WAR RENT LAW.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1917, Page 2

WAR RENT LAW.

MANY APPLICATIONS

The new war rent legislation came into operation on November Ist. Under its provisions authority was given to Inspectors of Awards to take cases on behalf of tenants to have the capital value of dwellings ascertained with a view to fixing the standard rent. In about ten days since the Labour Department gave public notice of the provisions of the law about 60 enquiries have been received, and 14 applications have been filed asking that the inspector should institute proceedings (says the Wellington “Posit”). It does not follow that proceedings will he taken in all eases. In some, no doubt it will be found that th° landlord is within his rights and in others it is probable that the maiter will he settled satisfactorily without reference to n magistrate. Tn one or two instances it has been found that a tenant who has oomplai’nod lins sub-let portion of the dwelling at a considerably higher rate than he himself is paying. Tn one ease a tenant was actually receiving more for the of the house which were sub-let than was being i paid as a rent for the whole dwelling. Under such circumstances the landlord is not, of course, allowed a free hand, hut tho tenant’s case is not morally strong unless a proportionate reduction is made in the rent of the sub-ten-ants .