Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-08
Rent Control Saves
DC. Tenants $4,000
A Year, Cogswe|I Says

Robert F. Cogswell, administrator
Of District rent control, reported to-
day that his Office has saved ap-
proximately $4,000 yearly for ten
ants In rents through disposition of
formal and informal complaints
From January !, 1912, to June 30,
1943, he stated, 42767 inquiries and
complaints were handled by tele-
phone.
The rent control Office during its
two years of operation has accu-
mulated premise card index of be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 rental units
In addition. he said, there are now
on file rental schedules for 10000
rooming houses, of which more than
1000 serve meals.
Though the final half of last
years record has not been COM
pleted. Mr.. Cogswell reported that
during the first six months of 1913
his Office disposed of 1880 of 1902
formal complaints. During the first
part of the year the Office handled
11,700 persons seeking information
or desiring to file complaints.
In discussing the per annum saw
ings for tenants, Mr.. Cogswell said
this did not include complaints that
landlords were about to attempt an
increase in rents.
Most Landlords Assist.
Taken as a whole. there seems to
be conscientious effort on the part
of landlords to comply with the
provisions of the Rent Act and the
orders promulgated by this Office
The District of Columbia Emergency
Rent Act is clearly and succintly
written and landlord and tenant
alike should experience no difficulty
in understanding its provisions. In
only a few cases has it been neces-
sary for this Office to institute Grim
inal proceedings against landlords
for willful violations of the act.
However, in every such case the
defendant has been convicted" he
said.
There have been a number of
civil suits instituted by tenants
against landlords for violation of
the minimum service standards as
required by the act and in the ma
jority of these cases the tenant has
been awarded a judgment.
From general observation, it
appears that the very acute hous-
ing situation which existed here a
year ago has eased somewhat. De-
mand for housekeeping apartments
In the central city area and in the
Northwest section is still heavy, and
in the garden type of apartments,
the demand is heavy, regardless of
the location. Mclean Gardens has
q waiting list of approximately $50
for apartments, and approximately
400 for space in the dormitories.
In the Eastern section of the city
Naylor Gardens has waiting list of
approximately $50 to 300 for house
keeping apartments.
"GreenWay has a waiting list of
approximately $50, Fairfax Village
approximately $50 and Skyland
about 100. The greatest demand for
non-housekeeping accommodations
of the one-room, hotel type, ap-
pears to be at Meridian Hill, where
there is said to be a waiting list
in excess of 5000. In some areas
housekeeping apartments are vacant
at the present time.
There has been a very decided
easing of the housing situation in
solar as rooms" are concerned.
The demand in the central city area
Is fairly heavy, but one can make
a choice of rooms in the outlying
districts or on the fringe of the city.
The situation with reference to the
flrst-class hotels has eased consid-
erably also. Most of the time hotels
are generally filled to capacity, but
1t is no longer an impossibility to
obtain accommodations in a first
class hotel in this city if reserva-
tons are arranged for a few days
ahead" he added.
Fuel Oil Situation Better.
ut has teen gratifying to note
that the number of complaints re-
ceived in this Office so far during
this heating season where fuel oil
generates the heat, have been con-
slderably less than the number re-
ceived at the same time last year.
This is undoubtedly due to the fact
that the distribution of fuel oil is
being handled in a manner much
superior to what it was a year ago
and also to the fact that the sup
ply of fuel oil available is not in
the desperate condition it was ap-
proximately year ago.
Unless very severe cold weather
should develop, it is believed that
the general comfort of tenants in
housing accommodations will be
much above what it was year ago.
The average landlord or owner of
housing accommodations appears to
be willing to supply as much heat
as the prevailing restricted allot-
ment of both Oil and coal will
permit.
In cases where complaints
are made to this Office, it would
greatly facilitate the disposition Of
the matter If the tenant would
state whether he is living in an
apartment house, a room in ROOM
ing house, a room in a private home
or whether he is occupying housing
accommodations in what is de-
scribed as a four-family fiat. 1t is
also a matter of absolute necessity
that the name of the landlord or the
real estate agent in charge of the
prODPrtV he furnished
Complaints are received at this
office which are so lacking in detail
as to the type of housing accommo-
dalton involved and the manage
ment or ownership of the property
that it necessitates a great deal of
unnecessary correspondence en-
deavoring to ascertain with whom
this Office should communicate in
order to properly take care of the
complaint, Mr.. Cogswell concluded.