Smyrna times., 1942-12-31
ADJUST RENTS
MARCH LEVEL
All Rents in Kent County Go
Back to What They We're
on March LIST, 1912
AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT

Tor the DOVel-Sed1OlQ De1enSe
Rental Area, all properties rented
or offered for rent are now subject
to federal regulations. In general
all rents in these two Counties go
back to what they were on March
l, 1912 under the maximum rent
regulations effective in this area.
Adjustment Automatic
Unless the dwelling in which a
tenant lives was built or substan-
TALLY altered by major change,
materially altering the character of
the living quarters, since March /,
1912, the general rule for the ten
ant to follow in paying December
rent bill is-do not pay more than
the rent paid on March l, 1912,
Mr.. Wolcott stated. The tenant
does not have to get permission
from his Landlord to make this adj
justment; the adjustment is auto
matte. In the event there has been
a major change since March 1,
1912, the tenant pays the first rent
charged after the alterations were
completed, but Mr.. Wolcott added
that ordinary repairs and upkeep
does not constitute a major i'm
provement.
Landlords Register
All Landlords of properties,
wherever people live and pay rent,
whether in houses, apartments,
boarding houses, auto and trailer
camps, etc. are required to register
these dwelling units on or before
January Is, 1913. Registration by
Landlords, or their authorized
agents, is in process at this time
and conveniently located registra-
tration centers are being set up
throughout the Area. The location
of these registration centers are as
follows: Smyrna, Dover, Harring-
ton, Milford, Seaford, Georgetown,
Frankfort, Lewes, and Rehoboth.
Further information as to the ex-
act time and place of registration
in these towns will be furnished
next week. Volunteer assistants
are being recruited to aid Landlords
in registering their properties.
Adjustment Grounds
Only few grounds for adjust
ments from March L, 19442 rents
are permitted. A substantial in
crease in services, furnishings, or
equipment may entitle Landlord
to an adjustment. Another posi-
BILE ground might be where the rent
on the maximum rent date was ma
terially affected by blood, person
al, or other speial relationships, be-
tween Landlord and tenant. Special
attention is called to the fact that
the rent regulations provide for
control and restraint of evictions.
Under the maximum rent regula-
tions the Landlord is not permitted
to evict tenant without notifying
the Area Rent Office.
Eviction Orders
Evictions are restricted but a
Landlord may petition for such
eviction: if the tenant refuses to
pay his regular rent or,
If the tenant has violated a SUBJ
stantial obligation of tenancy or is
committing a nuisance, or is using
the premises for immoral or illegal
purposes or,
If tenant, who had a written
lease refuses to sign a renewal for
a period of not longer than one
year at rate not higher than the
maximum legal rent or,
If Landlord wishes to remodel
or alter the dwelling unit in such a
way that the presence of the ten
ant hinders the work or,
If the tenant has unreasonably
refused the Landlord access to the
housing accommodations for the
purpose of inspection or showing
the premises to any person having
legimate interest therein, I'M
less contrary to the provisions of
the tenants lease or other rental
agreement or,
The tenants lease or other rental
agreement has expired and at the
time of termination, the housing
accommodations or a predominant
part thereof are occupied by one or
more subtenants, or other persons
occupying under a sental agree
ment with the tenant.
Right to Occupy
Even evictions resulting from the
sale of rental property are rigidly
controlled, continued Mr.. Wolcott.
From now on, he said, the require
ments of the maximum rent regu-
lations must be met before a pur-
chaser may obtain the right to oc-
cupy the property;
/. Payment of one-third of the
purchase price, which may not be
borrowed funds, must be made be-
fore a certificate authorizing evic-
ton will be issued by the Area
Rent Office.
2. Three months must pass af-
ter issuance of the certificate be-
CONTINUED on Page Three)