THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 11 August 1919, Page 4

THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS.

With such a demand for houses as that which exists at the present time, tenants who, are on a weekly or a monthly fenfire do not feel secure, for they never know the day when they may be told to shift and find another house.

there seems to be a certain amount of misunderstanding as to the actual powers of landlords and tho rights of tenants, a “Wanganui Herald” representative obtained from Mr E. W. F. Gohns, Inspector of Awards, a statement dealing with the position. Section 5 of the War Legislation Act, 1916, provides that, so long as the tenant pays the standard rent, takes reasonable care of the premises, and docs not commit waste or cause a nuisance or annoyance to neighbouring occupiers, he shall be entitled to remain in possession, as a tenant, unless the landlord requires the dwelling for the occupation of himself or of some person in his employ, or unless ■ the Court, on application by the landlord, grants an order for possession or ejectment on some oilier grounds which may be deemed satisfactory by the Court; if (he dwellinghouse is sold the same provisions apply respecting the new owner.

(standard rent means the rent charged at the outbreak of the war ill

i. or rent at which the dwelling was let since that date, if it was not let when the war broke out. or at the option of the tenant, only tho lowest rent at which the dwelling was let bo-' tween August, 19.14, and December, 1915, provided that if the standard rent as defined above, computed for a period of one year, was less than S per eent, then the standard rent computed for the same period shall in lion of the standard rent defined above, be equal to 8 per cent of the capital value.