The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-07-11
Facts On
Rent Control
FACTS ABOUT RENT CONTROL
(Installment 81

Tribune has been publishing a Sc
ries OF articles in connection with
the Federal rent control regula-
tions which were put into effect In
various parts Of the nation on
June /. This information Is OF
vital interest TO tenants, and
landlords.
The subject this week Is Special
Relationships Between Landlord
and Tenant and reads as follows:
Occasionally. because OF unusual
relationships between the land
lord and tenant the rent on the
maximum-rent date may be sub
stantially out OF line with that
charged for comparable housing
accommodations in the area. In
such case. the area Rent Director
NAV fix a new maximum rent.
/. @. The owner OF six-room
house rented the house TO his son,
and, wishing TO help him financial
" charged him only SIS month.
This rent was in effect on the
maximum-rent date. Later the son
moved out. Must the owner still
charge SIS month when similar
dwellings were bringing around
$40 a month on the maximum
rent date?
A. No. the landlord Is entitled to
petition the area Rent Director TO
set a new maximum rent substan-
TALLY in line with that OF similar
houses on the maximum-rent date.
2. O. In similar case, the ten
ant wished TO aid his father. who
owned the property. and paid $40
a month for the house when sim
liar houses on the maximum-rent
date were renting for $40. Does
the maximum rent remain at SIS?
A. No, when new tenant
moves in he may petition the area
Rent Director TO set new max
imum rent.
g. @. An owner, unable 10 make
badly needed repairs In a house,
let the tenant take the place "as
is" on the agreement that the ten
ant would make such repairs as
he wanted and would pay only $2i
a
on the maximum-rent date. Since
then, the tenant has moved and
the owner now wants TO put the
house back in shape but he cannot
afford to II he cannot charge any
more than $24. What should he do?
A. The owner on completing
repairs must petition the area
Rent Director to bring the maxi
mum rent back into line with what
similar houses in good repair
brought an the maximum-rent
date.
PENALTIES-Under the EmeT-
gency Price Control Act, civil and
criminal penalties are provided for
those who violate or attempt 10
evade maximum-rent regulations.
/. Q. What are the criminal
penalties?
A. The Act provides a maximum
fine of $4,000 and Imprisonment
for one year.
2. @. What are the civil penal
ties?
A. The tenant, or the Price Ad- |
mlnlStrhtOr on MS DenaN. may.
after August l. sue the landlord
for $50 or treble the amount by
which the rent exceeded the max
imum rent, whichever is the great |
err plus attorneys fees and costs |
as determined by the courts.
3. q. May any other action be
taken?
A. Yes, the Rent Director may
obtain a court injunction TO en-
force payment OF no more than
maximum rents.
4. q. VIII the Rent Director be
empowered TO inspect premises and
examine records TO detect evasions?
A. Yes, the tenant. tn eowner or
the renting agent must permit in
spection OF housing accommoda-
tions at the request OF the Rent
Administrator. In addition. the Ad-
ministratoy may require the owner
or his agent 10 submit books and
records for Inspection.