The Washington times., 1920-05-20
'PUT RENTSUP
TO GET BUYER
Realty Agents investment
Plan Protested BY Tenants
Before Commission.

An attempt to raise rents in Wash
ston and saddle the burden OF in
creased cost upon the tenant, in order
that a more attractive real estate In
Nestment could be made TO a prospec-
i've buyer. was brought to the stten-
tlon or the District rent commission
TINS morning In letter written by
stone e. Fairfax, real estate agents,
TO tenants occupying the row OF
houses from 954 to 8s6 Florida avenue,
northwest.
The tenants declare that rent in
creases or from 81 to 80 per cent, and
In some instances from 20 to 100 per
cent, have been demanded from them
for the above houses and for homes
222l to 22i5 Tenth street northwest.
tho tenants OF these two rows OF
houses having combined In a blanket
petition TO the rent commission tor
relief.
The letter from Stone & Fairfax
requests a monthly rental increase OF
Sl.2b per room, on the basis that this
Increased rental Is made necessary II
we hope to sell to investors. The
present rental does not pay an income
to satisfy any buyer. II Is necessary
to meet such conditions in order TO
sell real estate these days to invest
ors."
One official OF the rent commission
declared this morning that this was
not the first example OF it's kind of
"flagrant profiteering" in Washing
ton. but that several other attempts
have been made by landlords to make
the tenant the goat In order that
real estate values might be enhanced.
Tenants living in the Florida ave-
nue. houses In question ask the Rent
Commission to reduce their rents 10
per cent, declaring that their homes
are mere shacks They explain that
they are two-story brick tenement
houses OF four, five. and six rooms;
that the floors are sagging to the
point OF collapse and endansering
life: that the roofs leak; that the
wall paper is peeling off. and that
the houses are without baths and any
other conveniences. II is further
stated that the toilets in the back
yards are unssnitary.
The letter of Stone e. Fairfax to
these tenants follows:
"lt Ia our intention to sell the
block of houses, one of which you
occupy as tenant. We. no doubt,
can dispose of them speedily to no ne
BUYERS who would require possession.
Before proceeding along that line,
we thought il fair and reasonable to
suggest that you offer to pay an in
crease monthly rental of 1926 per
room beginning May !, 1890. so that
we might advertise and offer tn" row
to investors who might acquire rhe
houses for rental purposes. Your
rent would then he less than you
would be compelled to pay for LEGS
desirable quarters.
This Increased rental is made nec-
9 III
The present rental does not pay an
income to satisfy any buyer, who can
obtain high-class bonds and securi-
ties that produce s and 10 per cent,
with prospects of enhancement in
value.
1T is necessary to meet such Condi-
tions in order to sell real estate these
days to investors.
I'VE hope that you will cooperate
with us by signing the incloscd agree
ment and send il to US at once"
Some of the tenants met this re-
quested increase. fearing that they
would be evictcd If they did not, the
petition of the tenants states.
Those who refused to pay the high
er rent received another letter from
Stone Fairfax, stating that the
proposition offered you before (SI25
per room increase) is no longer open"
since the real estate firm requested
the rent commission to raise the rents
to $50 per month.
This letter emphasizes that tenants
would have Jared better IL they had
met the first offer. since il is indi-
Gated that they will be compelled to
pay higher rent by order of the
rent commission.
The commission has taken no &C.
ton on the case as yet.