The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-02
OPA AnsuUers Queries On Rent Control Law Basic Principles of Act Explained in Formal Statement = g Areas in New England
 States Affected by Regulations.

Ipied by janitors, domestic servants, managers, and caretakers included under rent control?
 A, No, these quarters, when pro- vided as part of the compensation for persons working on the premises, are exempt.
 Q. If a tenant wants to pay more than the maximum rent in order to obtain the living quarters he wants, may he do so?
 A. The landlord cannot receive more than the maximum rent per- mitted under federal regulations. For the landlord to agree to high CT rent makes him subject to civil and criminal penalties for evasion of the maximum-rent regulations.
 Setting Maximum Rents by Dates Federal regulations place cell ing over all residential rents. In liking the ceiling the government does not attempt the colossal tasi: of inspecting the living quarters c. each of Americas 16,000,0OO rent paying families and setting maxi mum rent for each place. Instead the price administrator selects "maximum-rent date" for a rent control area and directs that, as general principle, rents must not exceed the rents in effect on, that date.
 @. What is a maximum-rent date?
 A. This date marks the level above which rents in general can not go.
 o. How is the date determined?
 A. As far as practical. the date is chosen to reflect rental condi- | tions before defense activities shall have resulted, or threatened to re- suit in increases in rents ."
 Q. What is the maximum-rent date?
 A. It is the date set by. price ad- ministrator in issuing rent regula- tions in placing ceiling on rents. In Hartford, Connecticut, for ex- ample, the date is April l, 1941.
 o. What does that date mean?
 A. It means that the tenant must not pay any higher rent for his quarters than was paid for the same quarters on April l, 1941.
 o. If the rent was $32.0O a month on April l, 1941, is that the highest that now can be charged? l
 A. That is correct.
 @. If the rent was $32O0 on April 1, 1941 and has been increased since then to $3800, how much should the tenant pay?
 A. The maximum is $32.00 and | that is all the tenant can pay.
 o. Will the tenant receive re- bate covering the amount he paid | over the maximum up to the time the regulations went into effect?
 A. No, there will be no rebate, | but henceforth he will pay no more than the maximum.
 Q. Although the rent was $32.00 on April l, 1941, the present tenant moved in some months later and has always paid $500. What is the | maximum rent?
 A. The maximum is still only | $32.00. It doesn't matter who paid the rent on the maximum-r date. The rent must not exceed the | amount charged on that date.
 o. How will the tenant know what the rent was on April 1, 1941, if he has moved since then?
 A. He can learn this directly from ! his landlord or through the registra- tion statement that the landlord files with the local rent director. False information in this statement will subject the landlord to criminal ! penalties.
 o. What is to be done if landlord and tenant can not agree or de- ! terfnine what the rent was April 1, l 1941?
 A. The rent director acts to fix the maximum rent.
 @. Is not the landlord entitled to | some additional rent if he has made E substantial changes and improve I ments in the property since the ! maximum-rent date?
 A. Yes, the regulations set up ! machinery for handling exceptional cases like this.
 @. How is the maximum rent de- termined if the house was vacant April 1, 194l.
 A. Tn that case the last rent K charged in the two months prior to April 1, 1941 is the maximum rent.
 Q. Suppose the house was vacant during those two months, too. What happens then? And what happens if the owner occupied the house and did not rent it until some time after \ April i, 1941?
 A. Tn either case the rent cannot exceed the first rent charged for the quarS=sc after April l. 194l. How ever, as a proS<Stion to the tenant against an excessive charge, the s.ANack %f1a a rrNa0fal T.nTnrNFf il