The evening world., 1920-05-10

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Following are the questions and
answers for to-day:
r. Mn April, 1919, was paying
Ss4. and by October OF the same year
my rent was raised to $42. The land
lord now demands an increase OF 81
on June 1. Is this legal7
Answer-The law does not legiu-
Matte any increase. 1t merely says
when a landlord raises a tenant more
than rs per cent. over what he paid
year previous his acts shall be deemed
unjust and oppressive, snless he can
prove the increase is just and fair.
This applies to your case.
r, j. XII was raised from SIC to
$50 in November, 1919, and now the
landlord informs me that on June 1
my rent will be 1913, although he has
done no repairing. His only excuse
is that he can get a good deal more
for the rooms from some one else,
Kindly let me know IL this Is Just
increase.
Answer-The law presumes the in
crease to be unjust and unfair, and II
Is your right TO refuse payment IL
your landlord brings you to court be-
cause Of non payment, you can COM
pei him to produce his accounts 10
prove the raise is fair.
s. X. VI leased an apartment
from a lessee and my lease was to
extend to the expiration Of his. Now
the house has been sold, and his
lease automatically ends. l want to
know IL my lease holds good, although
there are new owners?
Answer-If 1t was specified that
your lease was to last as long as the
leasee's and the leasee's has ended
automatically yours also automatic
ally ends.
4 DAILY READER-we have been
paying 1923 q month, and last year the
landlord informed us the rent would
be $27 from June !. Can he legally
raise the rent any time Of the year,
and does the law say he cannot raise
the rent at any other time than May
1 and oct. 1?
Answer-The law sets no date for
the increase of rent.
M. I'm September, 1919, we were
paying SIS a month, and In october
we were raised to $50. On Feb. / we
were raised to $25. and now we are
given another raise, to take enect on
June 1, which will make the rent $zS'
Is that right?
Answer-The law presumes the IN
crease to be unjust and oppressive
because YOU have been raised more
than 25 per cent. in less than a year.
Refuse payment Of the last increase
on the ground that you do not think
it is right, and allow the matter 10 be
adjusted in court.
]. c, 81 have been living in
fiVe-room apartment for five years
and have paid $40 a month. Now hot
water. steam heat and electric lights
are being installed, and the landlord
notifies me the rent will be $40
month, beginning Oct. /. when every
thing will be completed. VIII the
law allow this increase?
Answer-Most likely. However, If
you wish to test the justice of the
raise, you may refuse to pay it and
nave the Municipal Court set a just
rental. On the face OF 1t, IL would
seem your landlord is inclined TO be
fair, although the increase is con-
siderable.
r. i'm October, 1919, our rental
was raised from $42 TO $50: and now
We are notified that on oct. l, 1920,
our rent will be $65. l don't believe
she landlord can do this, although |
about it?
Answer-The law presumes the in
crease TO be unlawful and unjust, but
IL the landlord can prove by a list
of his expenses for the house con-
cerned that his demands are fair the
court will award him the rental Of SOS.
II might be wise to refuse payment
and let the matter go to court for ad-
justment.
E. MI am the occupant of an
apartment OF five rooms in a splendid
location. In the past the rent has
been very small, but the landlord is
having the rooms done over and now
wants $3.50 more for each room l
have offered him 81 a room. Which
OF us is right?
Answer-From the meagre facts
presented il is difficult to tell which Of
you is right. The best way to ascer-
tain that is to bring the matter into
the Municipal Court and have a rental
~ which would justly compensate the