New-York tribune., 1920-12-19
Thousands of Rent
Cases on Calendar
Awaiting Trial
Justice Impeded by Great
Strain OH Machinery of
the Court, According to
Apartment House Exper:
By Joseph II. Nassoit

y
Member Beard of Governors Real
Estate Investors of New York, Inc.
Over two months have passed since
the rent laws began operating. Op-
portunity has, therefore, been afforded
70 study their effect upon real estate
and the public generally.
It is apparent thar the Legislature
has enacted laws which THIS city, at
present, has not the adequate ma
chinery to operate. The municipal
courts are overburdened with rent
cases, and in mos' instances the
tenants demand a trial by jury, which
IN trying these cases. Take, for in
stance, the 7th Dlstrict Municipal
Court, which controls the territory
from 10th Street to Spuyten Duyvil
west Of Fifth Avenue. 1t IS almost
Impossible to gain admittance in this
court, wherein thousands of vases are
On the calendar awaiting trial. Many
of these cases may not be reached for
many months
To accept the rentals that tenants
oher vii cause a loss in mary cases,
md II IS necessary e resort to legal
acton Landlords are willing to sub
M thelr cases for proper adiudica-
tlon, but the congeSted condition Of
the courts indefinitely postponss this
opportunity When rentals arc in dis
pute, the rent laws provide that an
owrer shall present bill of particu-
iars and shall be allowed reasonable
return on the investment, but fail to
state what percentage on the invest
ment Is reasonable and how the value
IL the inyestmen& she'll be determined
As most of the tenants demand iury
trial it is questionable what a iury
would term reasonable. and how they
sh"l determine the amount of invest.
ment IN each property affected.
Laws Fail to Protect Poor
Inc present rent laws have obviously
1aIed IN their purpose They have not
psoeected the poor or working class
"hich' we understand. was their in
tent- These tenants had no leasos .nd
we're subject to monthly increases ar'd ad
nnscrupulors landlords have long s;ncs ]rre
attained their purpose. 's '''''
me ieginmate owner, Who has owned
properly Tor many years and who has
paSseo through many hardships. is un-
Justly handicapped and burdencd he-
AUST great many tenants, who hao
'eIy 10" rentals on long leases. now
"TSp'l'ng' are now taking advantage Of
,n nne:e l@"s' enceavoring to remain in
~ N~e'i0 apartments at rentals
"nlch 90 not pay q proportionate share
're lxed carrying charges. Surely
me Legislature could not have intcnded
such results; nevertheless thcse con-
u'nohs are enforced today.
lhese Jaws are destructive becanao
ney deter building. No builder viii
aS@mpt 70 erect apartment housea
Wnile the present laws cxist for ~
investor Is no longer attracted to an
investment over which ne haa no cor
troi. Inc population Of this city viii
increase housing will not. SupDlv
ana demand have always and alwavs
WI, regulate prices. The rent lux
rave stopped the supply-haye Diverted
capital IRON real estate and di.eour-
aHed its ownership, thereby imnnd,n.
me progress Of tne city and one ~
me principal sources Of revenue.
Just az long az The present lava re-
main In exIstence, just 10 LONG vii,
nusidlng be deferred, and wi.h the
natural growth IN population in thja
eity' housing conditions viii become
)br, 20 rnuch more acute. When hous-
ing iaciI'ties in this city reach the
ccnGltiDnn non prevailing in other
cti4e>, such 81 Los Angeles. due Ia lark
NJ nvt.osng, IL WI be necc1aayy "a re-
Yes} tne la"o In order ~ induce build.
my. Therefore MY vat for tbtu
critical condition? Considerable tiros
wiii nave been logG and housing faciii-
Mss greatly delayed, Supply @ra de-.
nand will .yentualiy predona,nsss &.