New Britain herald., 1919-07-29
THOSE RENT FIGURES.

THOSE RENT FIGURES.
 The rent situation, New Britain's foremost problem, is recalled by a pertinent communication received in 8the Herald office today asking about 3the figures on rents and prices in the 3yarlous parts of the city as they were &presumably obtained by the police &one or two months ago, Officers, Hauthorized to do so by the Comm on &Council, faithfully canvassed New
 Britain, asking questions about the
 homes that were cheerfully and Thoroughly answered in the majority #of cases. The hope back of the com Xpliance of the housekeepers was that
 each one was assisting in some plan Ito lower rents, or at least obtain an #estimate of the renting costs of the < city. They did not have to answer T the questions but did so with a real Hregard for public welfare. Have the
 answers received been made use of? Apparently not. Our writer, in the
 Communicated column asks, why #not?"
 Tn the present state of affairs it
 becomes a matter of public concern
 what rent his neighbor is forced to
 part of the age-earners' income is going into rents and in many cases l. that the high price is not justified by & costs of house and original outlay in property. The sale and resale of S houses has resulted in a boost of rents each time, until it is impossible l to pay the price. It is also impos- sible for the family to move, as there situation is created. Old houses and property that is valued low on the assessors lists are bringing in rents that would only be proper in highly costly edifices on valuable sites. The demand makes it possible to get any sum for a place that is suitable to live in. Profiteering landlords have not been checked by police action II QGSDlJG The people of the city have little to say about what a man may charge for his tenements. He has the privi- lege of collecting what he peases.
 an excellent club over the profiteer in the re-assessment which is even I now going on. The income of a property is easily determined after the rents are known. The rent fur ] nishes an accurate index of what the I owner regards his real estate and buildings as worth. After his in come is known let the assessors call the yearly amount seven per cent of the whole and tax his property ac- cordingly. This will help some. When landlord boosts his rent let the as- sessment be boosted-at once. And let every person in the city make ii his business to see that this plan is strictly followed.
 Another plan for reducing the costs or rents, or holding them where
 they SnOulu property De IS oDNlOuo-
 ly for the house owner of property
 here to hold it. no matter how at-
 tractive a sum may be offered him
 It is the general belief that building
 prices are coming down and real es-
 tate is at high valuation now. This
 Is not so, costs are going to see nc
 material reduction for many years, il they ever do. Rather are wages going
 'up to meet the increased expense
 Therefore your home is worth more
 now than heretofore and it is no
 going to deprecate. In addition, vol
 will have to pay an amount that ex
 ceeds the income on the selling prlc
 of vour old home to get a new rent
 and YOU know it. What does on
 gain bv selling? Absolutely nothln
 but 8 little more cash on hand tha will be better invested in property Do not sell your home. That IS on way YOU can help without harmin yourself.