New-York tribune., 1920-08-10
Climax in Rent
Crisis to Come
With October |
Troubles of All Tenants
Must Be Decided on That
Day for Next IL Months
Under the New Legislation
Uncertainty in Situation
10000 Eviction Orders AL.
ready Signed in Bronx:
All BorouShs Hit Hard


the housing problem has assumed III this
city. The first article. 1ohich dealt yith
the failure Of ba'lders and authorities to
.ehere the situation up TO thsi time. ,ros
published in yesterdays Tribune.
The troubles Of the average tenant
Of New York City, growing out of the
housing crisis. Will reach their climax
On October l.
1t is then that the question Of a
home o. not home viii be decided
for . large part Of the 1000. 900 apart
ment dwellers one day or the other.
1t is the day toward which the land
lords have been working for several
years, as - having leases expire on
this date tney nave fewer vacancies
in the summer time. 1t is the day. too.
under the new rent laws, upon which
eli occupations for unspecifcd periods
will terminate and upon which all
monthly and most written leases will
expire.
II you have not already made your
peace with your landlord and are one
OF the great body of householders who
are refusing or are unable to meet
the increased rentals asked by the own
e., you are naturally wondering what
Is going to happen TO you on that day.
SEQ For Rent" Signs.
If you are Of an optimistic turn of
ria6 and think that you might find &
reasonable housekeeping suite over
locked by your neighbor, it is we'll to
keep in mind the statement OF Arthur
J. W. lilly, chairman Of the Mayors
Committee or Rent Prof teering. that
there are probably net more than 500
For Rent signs at this moment in
a.. Manhattan.
II you are particularly resident of
the Bronx you are doubtless aware Of
the fact that the conditions there are
crowded enough and that FIVE families
are squeezing into apartments formerly
occupied by one. TO escape eXorbitant
rentals. Your chances. then. Of finding
new home at this time are, to say
the least, Insignificant
The comparatively small number Of
two-family houses and bachelor apart
nents TO be had here and there need
not be considered as affecting the aver
age tenant. That you may not mss
one detail Of the circumstances that
are adding to your worries. however,
you should know that four Of the big
gest hotels in the city-the Knicker-
booker, the Manhattan, the Holland
House and Sherry slave recently shut
VI shop and the 5000 families that
were permanently quartered there have
taken some Of the choice apartments
that might otherwise have been avail
lble
H. nevertheless. you have been prom
ised an apartment and possession Of
fered you on October l, there are
u,,f
In the first place, if we may Judge
from what is taking place now, the
promise is practically worthless. 1t
appears generally impossible for the
landlord, under present circumstances,
to give any definite assurance that the
tenant will get the place promised him
on that day because he may find the
old tenant refusing to yacate.
Van Prices SKY High
If you decide 70 take the chance, any
number of things may happen. When
you have moved your goods over to
the "promised land you probably will
find the old tenant as strongly in
tronched as ever Upon returning home
you may find that another has already
taken possession Of your late residence
having been promised the place by
your landlord In other words, the day
e4-'''
will be able to tell with certainty where
h. viii land, once he places his furni-
ture on van.
Then, it is well to know that the
van owners are charging as high as
S100 to move your goods q short dis
tGnce. If you are unfortunate enough
to find yourself with your furniture
out in the street as the result of all
this confusion, and decide to place your
goods in storage until you can Land
something within your means, you Will
experience great trouble in finding a
warehouse that Is not choked to the
roof
All of which is merely saying that
whatever moving is going to be done
OIL that day will be fraught with the
greatest uncertainty. The proceeding,
it is expected, win be indulged in only
by those who have no other recourse
but to get out and who will exchange
quarters with a few others in a like
situation, paying the new landlord con-
slderably more than he was getting
from the old tenant.
The average leaseholder who cannot
meet the demands Of his agent, is get
ting tight If the landlord has not
his demands by October l, he will have
asked the court for an order of evic-
tion.
New Rent Laws Operative
AT this point the new rent laws will
begin to operate. The tenants already
hive been advised by the Mayors Com
mittee on Rent Profteering to rein
force their defense with formal let
Ter, which il is suggested they send
to their landlords to satisfy all the
legal requirements when the matter
comes up for hearing in the courts.
The letter reads:
Responding to your letter of
informing me that the lease for the
apartment | occupy IN premises No.
80. will not be renewed, | beg to in
form you that l intend to retain pos
session of the said premises at just
and fair and reasonable rental | shall
De pleased to have you inform me by
feturn mail at what rental you will
agree 20 renew my lease Tor the en-
suing term.
In the event that we are unable
TO coma to an agreement as to terms
ara conditions of continued tenancy,
Shall make due and dillgent effort
TO ind an apartment of similar char
acter in this neighborhood and else
Were, and, failing TO succeed, shall
apply to a court of competent jurisdlc-
ton for a stay as in the judgment IN
such court may seem necessary
Trusting, however that we may be
able to agree upon fair basis etc.
II the landlord. as 8 result, cares to