New-York tribune., 1920-04-04
Tenants Told
That Homes Are
Vacant Sept. 80
Continued from page one

Continued from page one
a million rent-paying Jews. will meet
Tuesday night at 175 East broadway.
Mn Hilly declared there is no reason
why the new laws should in any way
lntimidate prospective builders or hall
realty deals.
After Bandit Landlords"
"The measures" he said, "are direct
ed at the landlord who sticks a gun in
the face of tenant and holds him up
for all he can get. The laws, if any
thing should encourage building and
discourage speculation. They will en-
able property owners to realize a fair
and reasonable return on investments"
According to Mr.. Hilly, many land
lords have already notified their ten
ants that the rents will be increased
% per cent at the expiration of pres
ent leases.
A tenant who has been told that his
apartment will be vacant" at the ex-
piration OF his lease need not vacate,
Mr.. Hilly says. If he is unable to find
other quarters he can stay on. Such a
case is known as o "holdover."
When the landlord institutes dis
possess proceedings the tenant can
ask the court for thirty day stay in
which to find other quarters. If this
is granted he pays in advance month 8
rent to the court at a figure which is
considered just.
Six Months Repricve Possible
The tenant. said Mr.. Hilly. by apply
ing TO the court at thirty day inter
walls. can remain six months after the
expiration of the lease before the land
lord would be able to execute a dis
possess warrant. Which means that a
tenant whose lease expires on Septem-
ber 80 can hold over until March 80
providing he shows to the satisfaction
of the court that ne has made an honest
effort to obtain other accommodations.
Landlords apparently have notified
tenants that they must give up their
apartments so as to be able to rent to
new tenants at a greatly Increased
price. This. Mr.. Hilly said. was'a sub
terfuge and an attempt to evade the
new laws. "Landlords,' he declared,
will not be allowed to duck the issue
There seems to be general mis-
understanding regarding the 25 per
cent increase. The law does not mean
that landlords can indiscriminately
boost their rents 25 per cent.
"The law provides for certain defences
: which may be nterposed in a summary
dlspossess proceedings where the land
lord seeks to recover possession of prem
ises for non-payment OF rent. The
tenant may interpose the claim that the
rent which is due is unjust, oppressive
and unreasonable.
Where rent has been increased rs
per cent over that of year ago, this
fact shall be presumtive evidence that
the rent is oppressive and unjust
"At any time and under any circum-
stances when a tenant thinks he is pay
ing unfair rent he can go into court and
protest. He will have to prove, how
ever that the rent is oppressive
Realty Owners to Help Both Sides
Stewart Browne, of the United Real
Estate Owners Association, said that
members OF the organization are alert
to the seriousness of the housing prob
lem. and that they will give aid to
landlords and tenants alike IN the in
depreciation of the new rent laws.
1t is understood that Edward P.
Doyle, legislative agent of the Real
Estate Board of New York and chair
man Of the boards budget committee,
will appear art Albany tomorrow on
behalf of realty interests. He will ask
the Legislature to exempt new build
ings and buildings under reconstruc-
ton from the provisions of the new
laws. He also will ask that all build
lngs erected in the next five years be
exempted from state and municipal
taxes.
Persons living at 233 West Eighty
third Street have been notified that
they must vacate on September 80,
when their leases expire.
These tenants include Claiming Pol
lock, playwright; F. Ray Comstock,
producer, and Edith Taliaferro, act
ress. Homer Loomis, a lawyer, who
lives in the building, will take action
in behalf of himself and the distressed
tenants
Frank Mann, Tenement House Com
missioner, in a statement given out.
charged that the so-called bachelor or
non-housekeeping apartments are be-
Ing occupied illegally as tenement
houses. He said that were it not for
the housing shortage he would prose-
cute the owners and order the houses
to be vacated.
Murphy Opposes Tenement Plan
"An attempt to legalize illegal prac-
tees which are going on constantly
and one that cannot possibly help the
housing eituation" is the way John J
Murphy, former Tenement House Com
missioner, yesterday characterized the
movement to modify Ahe law regarding
the conversion of four-story houses
into tenements. He declared he could
see no other possible Interpretation OF
the movement.
On the other hand. the plan which ita
advocates declare would make $4,000
such houses available, and thus give
homes to 10000 families, has the milo
support Of the Tenement House Com
missioner. Frank Mann. He believes
the present law is too drastic. and that
serious dangers are being caused
through evasion thereof by landlords
He, however, does not believe that i,
will materially help the housing situa-
ton.
Leading real estate interests have
told members of the Lockwood joint
Legislative committee that there i,
already in existence housing for 10000
people, II the law can be amended 6
little The movement has centered be-
hind the Dodge bill, which would give
the Board Of Appeals power to chang,
or annul any part Of the tenement
house law and has not nut i.s nlsn