The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-01
City Landlords Boost Rents
100 Percent Excess Told In Appeals
 Director Urges
 Property Owners
 To Use Restraint

t1tS VI "A flee of which he has been ads ministrator "an agency with- out authority" and affirming that landlords are now free to boost rents, George J. McDuf today appealed to property owners ito use restraint and common sense and to cooper ate with the President in his efforts to stem imitation.
 The appeal to Waterbury iand- lords came early this morning as reports poured in that .andlords were boosting rents, in some In. stances in excess of 100 percent.
 Some boosts, however, were ex- pected to be stalemated by a State law which states landlords must give reasonable notice" to tenaxes before increasing rent.
 Subject to Days Notice
 Most Waterbury rents start on the first of the month, and on that basis landlords who did not give mo- tice yesterday may have to wait until the end Of the month. It was generally conceded that 'Tore days notice" would be held as ''reason- able' by the courts. :. .. :. .....- McDuff confirmed that tenants who received notice and refuse to pay increases may be subject to nI-in+inr, fry- ay,4
 The rent official said one trl- stance was reported to him where a landlord boosted his rent from $19 to $40 a month. Other boosts were reported today as follows: $28 to s43, $40 to s48, S38 to $50.
 One realtor reported case of | landlord refusing rent today until he decides how much he will raise | it.
 Increase Over 20 Percent
 The average increase reported to- day appeared to be in excess of 20 percent.
 Many calls poured into the rent office, still open today, from ten- ants who received boosts and from landlords who wanted to know If they could legally make increases. McDuff told all of the callers that "OPA regulations are out,,s and that increases were now IegsI. Many landlords, however, repor6ed they would await further develop ments until they put boosts though. Most sources held that if controls are returned the rent levels would be retro active to what they were when the OPA went out. | Confusion was created today over the status of evictions, and McDuR urged all tenants Involved in evica ton proceedings, in which the OPA had entered, to consult their ass torneys
 Certificates Nullified
 He said that six-month waiting- period certificates, issued by the OPA to new home owners who sought personal occupancy, have been nullified and that the cases can go into court without further waiting. In instances where vet- erans have been involved the OPA waiting period has been three months.
 Local law prevails now in evic- tion cases, ''McDuff stressed. Un- der local law. l0-day notices must be given for summary process cases. and then six days time is required for instituting the action. The pleadings can be closed in three days, so that cases can be heard as early as three weeks after filing.
 The rent authorities consulted with City Court officials today on possible action on evictions in which the certificates had been nullified. Rent authorities expressed the be- lief extreme caution would be shown by local authorities, and that the landlord involved could not expect to rush their cases through as . result of the lifting of OPA regula- | tions.
 A possible freezing of the former OPA evictiors was predicted m some sources, and action from the Governor was anticipated. Invoking of war emergency powers by the Governor in regard to all rents like- wise was expected by many sources, OPA Boards At Work
 Both the OPA rent staff and the OPA ration board workers were back at their jobs today, awaiting further instructions from federal authorities, and meanwhile per- forming limited tasks.
 McDuff said his staff was iu~ structed by the Boston regional of. flee to clear the backlog of cases pending before the OPA went out of existence. The staff of eight workers was on hand.
 Lawrence L. Lewis chairman of the Waterbury Ration Board, said the ration staff cant deal with the public now'', and that 1t reported merely to clear up filing work. There is nothing more to do," he said, adding that no instructions had been forthcoming from federal authorities.
 Members Of the ration staff said many telephone inquiries were re- ceived today, most of them pertain ing to sugar ration. All callers were told that sugar ration stamps are still in effect; and that a new can- ming sugar-stamp, No. 10, took ef- feet today.
 Nine women work at the ration headquarters, and four of them arc currently on. vacation.
 Real Estate Men Cautious Michael c. Murphy. president of the Waterbury Real Estate Board,