Evening journal., 1921-01-19
ONLY. TWO TOWNS
REDUCE RENTS
Detroit and Cleveland Re-
port Decreases in Home
Costs
SOME OFFICIALS
PREDICT RAISES

Bents arc moi coming down gener-
ally.
This was SHOWN today IN United
Press dispatches from cities through
oOt The country. which reported
property owners planning 10 increase
rather than reduce dwelling rentals.
only two cities. Detroit and ClcNc-
land. reported decreases In rents.
Thesc We're for cheaper apartments,
and in the latter city were Offset by
q corresponding increase for higher
priced places. The situation in De-
trOil resulted from i0hlcss automobile
workers leaving the city, creating nu-
mcrous vacancies.
In New York and Milwaukee, eome
rents have been forcibly reduced
through the operation Of State hous-
ing laws.
1'hf housing shortage Is responsible
f0r,high rents according 10 the land
lords and. because OF the high prices
and alleged scarcity of building mate
rials many Of them, notably In Chi
cagO and Boston. predicted rents
would not come down for 1--WE to eight
years.
: The present situation was reported
as follows.
New York-COurts have averaged
1000 rent cases daily since state rent
laws became effective In October, plac-
INK upon the landlord the burden OF
proving Justification OF any increase
and preventing eviction pending adj
Indication. In most Instances, a slight
Increase is allowed. though a few re-
auctions have been ordered Landlords
continue trying TO raise rents and Will
make a concerted fight for repeal Of
the rent laws at the present session OF
the Legislature.
Chicago. r. Patterson, president
az the Chicago Tenants Protective
League, predicted rents will not come
down for 1--WE years. and Will go up I'm
the spring. unless the Legislature
passes bill authorizing cities to reg
ulaic rentals
Bosion-Leading real estate dealers
predicted rents would increase next
summer because Of housing shortage
and return 10 normal conditions can
not be expected for seven or eight
years.
Detroit-Automobile workers. out Of
employment, have left the city In great
numbers, creating a surplus in mod
erate-priced apartments and resulting
in reductions, from So 10 S25 a month,
Cleveland - Slight rent reductions
have been made in poorer districts
but better apartments are generally
higher. Real estate men said law OF
supply and demand would keep rents
up for at least a year.
Milwaukee-Rent reductions have
been ordered under State laws IN
isolated cases.
Pittsburgh Landlords predicted
rent increases averaging five per cent
because OF Increased apartment short.
age. Tenants help increases by bid
ding against each other No relic
looked FOR inside OF two years.
Kansas City. C. Nichols, real es
tate operator, said rents cannot com
down until costs Of building material
and labor are reduced. Present wag
scales will continue until MAY.
philadelphia - Reduction IN renl
VIII follow Increased building. hu
this is not expected for several month.
according 10 W. b Kelly. secretary O
the Philadelphia Real Estate Board
st. LouiS-T. $. Gcrhart, real cslal
man, said no rent reductions were ex
pected this spring, but may come
year later, II the building schedule .
carried out.
Atlanta--Renis will remain higl
until next fall. al least according q
real estate dealers.
Washington George NJ. Myer.
housing authority. said purchase pric
OF homes probably will be reduced .
per cent in the spring. but that pres
eni rent levels probably would cor
tinue for several months
lndianapOlis-Renis have been In
creased 30 10 20 per cent, as a resu
Of Increased light. heat and taxes. n
rclief for. at least year.
Ilncinnati-Rcal estate brokers b,
iiGve no rent reductions are possibl
In less than year.
ST. Paul-Tenants facing The gro,
poet Of continued high rents ar
building great numbers Of cottages
San Francisco-W stevens, manage
ef The largest renting concern In "a
city. said there was mot the slig'lie.
possibility OF rents coming down mi
spring