Evening star., 1941-11-16
Increases in Rent
In Suburbs Shown
By Federal Survey
n Per Cent Of Homes
In Arlington Report
Advances; Average 9 Pct
By OLIVER MCKEE.

During the % months from Oc-
tober. 1899, to August, 1941, approx
imately Is per cent of the homes oc-
cupied by white tenants in Wash
ington suburban areas reported rent
increases, according to special
survey made by the Bureau Of La
Dor Statistics at the request OF the
Once OF Price Administration. The
results were made public yesterday.
'.lcluding the IS per cent OF
homes where rents remained un-
changed or declined. the total rent
bill advanced l per cent during this
period. the bureau estimated. The
average increase was 1888, or 8 per
cent.
Increases we're most numerous Tor
Arlington County, where rent ad-
vances were reported for % per
cent of the homes occupied by white
tenants. Montgomery County re-
ported the smallest proportion OF
rent advances-8 per cent. The
proportion of rent increases in Al
exandria and Prince Georges Coun-
ty was 18 and Is per cent, respec-
lively.
Throughout the suburban area
the bulk of the advances occurred
after October. 1910. With the ex-
pansion of the defense program,
the population of the District and
nearby areas has greatly increased
since last fall.
Most Increases Below $50 Level.
The proportion of homes for
which rents were raised was higher
among those renting for less than
$50 than it was above that level.
Rent raises were reported for only
10 per cent of the homes costing
$50 or more. For homes in other
price brackets the proportion OF
changes was as follows: $40 to
s49.99. 18 per cent: $50 to s39.99, q
per cent, and under $50, II per cent
On homes of white tenants for
which increases were reported, the
most frequent advance was $3.50.
Although rent increases were more
numerous in Arlington County than
elsewhere, the average increase was
smaller, s297, or 6 per cent.
In Montgomery County, rent de-
creases offset advances, with the
result there was virtually no change.
Rents were raised for approx
mately SO per cent of Arlington
County homes renting for less than
$40 a month with an average in
crease of 1898, or ia per cent.
For dwelling units in the $40 to
s4990 bracket. 26 per cent reported
rent increases. Rents were ad-
vanced IN only 16 per cent OF the
homes above the $50 level.
20T Increases for Colored Tenants.
Though higher rents were re-
ported for only about l out of
every IA dwellings for colored ten
ants, the increases were relatively
large, about 20 per cent. Between
October, 1889, and August, 1941, the
total rental bill on all homes occu-
pied by Negroes advanced Is per
cent.
The bureaus survey covered
representative group OF approx
mately 600 homes at all rent levels.
1t did not cover rooming houses
or dwellings whose structural type
underwent a major change during
this period.
The territory embraced the COM
muting area. The survey was de-
signed to show only changes in
actual rents paid, not to measure
the need for additional housing IA
cilities, or the level OF rents at
which dwelling units are available,
the bureau explained.
Changes in suburban rents follow
closely the District pattern. For
white tenants, District rents, in
cluding higher priced homes, were
at the same level in September,
194l, as in September, 1899, accord
figures.
Between September. 1899, and
June. 1910, average rents declined
slightly, with small increase since
June, 1910 Rents of homes occu-
pied by Negroes in the District are
about T PER cent above the Sep
tember, 1889. level.
Between September, 1899, and
September, 1941, District rents above
$50 have declined 0.4 per cent.
Homes renting for $50 or less have
advanced 13 per cent. and those
costing between $50 and $40 have
risen on the average Of OF per cent
since September, 1889.