Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-05
Rents and tho Building Code

20 long as the wartime scale Of prices
~ prevails and every commodity that enters
into the scheme of living commands figure
from so to 200 per cent greater than it did
two years ago, there is going to be but one
practical solution Of the problem OF high
rents in Richmond. That solution Is found In
more houses for it is the excess OF demand
over supply, the simplest of all economical
laws, that is sending the rent figures soaring
and working hardshps on present and pros
pective tenants 1t Is possible, even prob
able, that certain landlords and agents in
Richmond have taken advantage of the exist
ing abnormal conditions to profteer. but
sweeping accusation Of mucting clients
the part OF owners will not hold The lease
OF a house Is like any other commodity
has to sell, its price moves according to the
demand and largely in unison with the rise
and fall OF other commodities. In perhaps
the majority Of cases the lease OF his prop
erty is the only commodity possessed by the
owner, and on its profitable sale he depends
for his living. 1t is not reasonable to expect
him to hold the price of his lease down to
pre-war figures when for everything he has
to buy he is compelled to pay double treble
or even quadruple the amount required
year or two ago. Particularly Is this true
when dozen persons are clamoring for his
house even at the increased rates which many
are pleased to term exorbitant.
There is little hope of general reduction
in the cost OF living for many months, more
likely for many years. and so long as Rich
mond does not build number OF houses
sufficient TO bring the supply up to the de-
mand 1t may expect to pay the higher rents.
Under these conditions it will avail nothing,
and at the same time be unjust, to anathe-
Matte the landlords whose margin Of profit
is no larger than it was under the old stan
dard OF rents.
Anything that will help to revive the
building industry will be a distinct aid in
answering the Vexng question as to rents.
There Is small chance Of considerable de-
crease in the deterrent prices of material. so
other means must be found Of cheapening
construction and making the erection OF his
own home possible TO the citizen Of limited
means. Hope for progress along this line
Is seen in the adoption by Council of Cap
tain Mills resolution Cor commission to
revise the Building Code. Not in thirteen
years has that code been revised, and many
OF the restrictions and demands 1t imposes
on builders are not only antiQuated and
wholly unnecessary, but they place the
nome owner heavy burden of expense. 1t
is believed that by bringing the Code up to
date and removing its onerous restrictions
without endangering but rather increasing
Its effectiveness, the cost of construction OF
the average home can be reduced several
hundred dollars. With this ccomplished the
cost would be brought down nearer the level
it had reached before the war sent prices
skyward, and revival OF the building indus
try would be almost instantaneous 1t Is
not argued that this will solve the rent prob
lem, but it surely will prove a long stride in
advance, and it should be undertaken with
out delay.