The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-03
Question or Maxim un1 Rent Explained Today
OPA Articles Serving as Guide to Landlord, Tenant in Meeting Present Drastic Emergency
 Demand - Adjustments Outlined.

This marks the second installment of a series of questions and answers prepared by the Office of Price Ad- ministrator explaining the regula- tions and procedure, of rents con- trol. The information given anti cipates problems which confront both landlord and tenant and was released to guide both in observing one of the most drastic wartime measures ever formulated.
 Yesterday witnessed the first in- stallation. There will be another to- morrow and Friday.
 @. What is the maximum rent for new house or apartment cor1- pleted after April l, 1941?
 A. If the housing accomnoda- tions were completed between April 1, 1941 and the time federal rent control became effective, the maxi mum rent is the first rent charged to the occupant of the new quar- ters. But here, again, the land- lord must report the case to the rent director, who has authority to adjust the maximum rent to the April 1, 1941 level.
 @. Suppose the house wasn't cora- pleted until after federal rent con- trol became effective?
 A. At least 15 days before the place is to be rented, the owner must petition the local rent director to set the maximum rent.
 o. On what does the director base the rent?
 A. He bases the maximum on the rent for comparable houses on April 1, 1941. He also must make allow ances for increases in cost Of con- struction since that date.
 @. What about houses or apart ments constructed under government priorities for materials?
 A. In that case the maximum rent is the first rent charged, but in nc event can it be more than the schedule of rents which the war production board required the build- CT to submit before the board would grant the priority rating.
 O. What control is there over rents charged in government hous- ing projects?
 A. In all housing projects, whether owned or operated by the federal, state or local governments, the rents must conform to those charged in the area on the maxi mum-rent date.
 O. Does the rent director have authority to set maximum rents for government housing projects?
 A. Yes.
 ADJUSTMENTS IN MAXIMUM RENTS-To provide some flexibility in rent control, the federal regula- tions set up machinery for adjust ing maximum rents where condi- tions have changed since the maxi mum-rent date. The grounds on which the area rent director may raise or lower the maximum is lim- tied. Chiefly they cover substan- tial alterations in the housing &C., commodations, substantial altera- tions in the services or furnishings, and leases baed on peronal or pecial relationships between the landelord and tenant.
 o. What sort of alterations to a house or an apartment or a tene- ment will justify a change in the maximum rent?
 A. The regulations will permit an increase in maximum rent only if the alterations "bring about a sub- stantial change in the housing &C., comodations by major capital im- improvement as distinguished from ordinary repair and maintenance"
 o. On the maximum-rent date the landlord charged $S5 for a four room cottage. Shortly afterward he built a bedroom and bath in the unfinished attic. Is he entitled to raise the rent?
 A. Yes, the administrator may approve a higher rent because the alterations do create a substantial change by "a major capital improve ment as distinguished from ordinary repair and maintenance"
 o. A landlord painted the kite chen ana phpCIcO tAlC AAVAAAe 4OOAA' Then he raised the rent g a month. Is the increase allowable?
 A. No, because painting and pa- pering constitute ordinary repair and maintenance and are items gen. orally provided by the landlord un- less the rental agreement specifies otherwise.
 O. Then if the landlord spent the equivalent of five or six months rent putting a new roof on the house, he can not raise the rent to offset that expense?
 A. If the alterations were com- plete dbetween April 1, 194l and the date on which Federal rent regula- tions became effective, the maxi mum rent is the first rent charged for the remodelled quarters. How ever, the landlord must report this rent to the rent director within a month of the time Federal regula- tiona became effective and the di- rector may order decrease.