Evening star., 1920-02-02
|HALTS RENT BOOST
PENDING INQUIRY
Commission Demands Time
to Investigate Complaints
and Fix Status.

Refuse to pay increased rent until
| the District rent commission has had
| time to investigate complaints and
fix the status of tenants and land
lords in rent disputes" is the advice
of the commission to Washington ten
ants.
In a statement to the public issued
today the rent commission. by Daniel
G. Roper, jr., its secretary urges ten
ants to refuse to pay higher rents,
whether premises are occupied under
leases or not At the same time ten
ants are urged to demand that land
lords continue to furnish heat and
other service when required under
the terms of occupancy. Landlords
and their agents also are warned not
to attempt to evict tenants standing
on their rights. the commissions s
statement citing the provisions of law
under which the commission was ap-
pointed with power to adjudicate in
all disputes concerning rents, leases,
services, etc.
Text of Statement.
The statement of the commission
follows:
The members of the rent COM
mission have been overwhelmed by
verbal and written complaints to the
effect that landlords and rental agents
are attempting to force tenants into
making new rental agreements call
ing for advances in rents. Also, that
landlords in a number of instances
are not furnishing sufficient heat and
are neglecting other services which
legally should be furnished under
their rental agreements.
Where there is no lease in exist
ence, neither the landlords nor their
agents should attempt to force the
payment or an agreement to pay an
in hafnra
mission has held a hearing and de-
termined whether a proposed increase
is justified.
Commissions Approval Required.
mo rents of any character may
properly be increased by landlords or
their agents without first obtaining
the approval of the rent commission;
the tenants may refuse to pay any
increases in rents demanded until the
rent commission has first fixed and
determined the rent to be received
from the property. 1t has been
brought to the attention of the rent
commission that threats of ejectment
are being made in some cases. Suits
to eject for refusal to pay increases
tenants should not allow themselves
to be frightened in o agreeing to pay
additional rent by reason of threats.
Tenants should continue to pay
the same rent as they have been pay
ing until the rent commission, upon
the application of the landlord. has
passed upon the proposed increase.
Tenants Entitled to Heat.
"As to furnishing heat. where heat
is a part of the service agreed to be
furnished by the landlord, that heat
should be furnished. The act creating
the rent commission gives that body
iull jurisdiction over such matters.
and the commission will use all its
powers to compel the furnishing of
proper heat after due investigation,
particularly at this time, when grip.
influenza and pneumonia are so epi-
demic."
1t was announced that until per-
manent quarters are furnished and
made ready for business the rent
commission will continue to receive
complaints at the temporary offices it
now occupies on the second floor OF
902 Pennsylvania avenue. 1t is ex-
pected arrangements can be made to
give hearings on complaints that are
in shape for hearing in a few days.