Evening star., 1946-07-03
Virginia Owners
Legality
OF Raising Rents
Move Toward Boosts
Seen in Inquiries to
Control Officer

Although there have been few
complaints of increased rents in
nearby Virginia and Maryland, a
considerable number of property
owners have moved in that direc-
tion by inquiring into the legal steps
necessary, it was learned today.
Since expiration of OPA controls
Sunday midnight. about so landlords
have asked what they must do to
increase rents, according to I.
Chance Buchanan, rent director for
Arlington and Fairfax Counties and
Alexandria and Quantico.
Frank E. Taylor, whose rent con-
troll Office in Sandy Spring covers
Prince Georges, Montgomery, Call
vert and st. Marys Counties, said
complaints from tenants had rolled
in on an average of Is or 20 a day
since Monday.
We have heard no reports Of
sharp increases already imposed"
Mr.. Taylor said. Most tenants say
their landlords have served 3O-day
notices of Is or 20 per cent increases.
There have been few cases of 80
per cent increases"
Mr. Buchanan, in discussing ths
rent situation in the Virginia COM
munities, said:
We were obliged to tell property
owners all that is necessary is to
comply with the State law and file
3o-day notices of increases or evic-
tions."
Most of the landlords did not indi.
cate what increases they would ask.
One wanted to elevate $3.50 rental
to S42.50 and some intimated they
would demand Is per cent raises.
| About the same number of tenants
have reported to the Office their
rents were about to be raised. but
the rent control Office could only
extend them sympathy, Mr.. Buchan-
an added.
Auto Camp Boost S42 to $50.
| Few cases of exorbitant rent in
creases have come to his attention
in the area embracing 100000 popu-
lation, Mr.. Buchanan said. One
such case was the increase of S65
rent for a semi-detached two bed
room house to $3.50. Another was a
S45 to $50 increase for a house in
Vienna. An auto camp in Fairfax
lacked up prices from s42 to $50, he
said.
! The Arlington Alexandria Fairfax
Real Estate Board. which is said to
operate 80 per cent of the rental
property in this rent control area,
reiterated today its stand against
unnecessary rent increases.
! Robert J. Lancraft, executive Sec
retary. said he had learned from a
telephone poll that most members
were insisting on hold the line"
policy. The board has mailed letters
to Mayors in the area Offering as
sistance in setting up fair rent COM
mittees to safeguard against run
away rents, Mr.. Lancraft said.
Willing to Abide by Controls.
+. Although board members consid-
cred the lifting of controls an op-
portunity to prove business could
operate its own affairs, they were
willing to go along with any local
or State control measures, Mr.. Lam
craft said.
/ Gov. Tuck of Virginia declared
yesterday he would call special
session of the Legislature to enact
special legislation if the situation
warrants.
He warned he will mot stand idly
by while conscienceless persons take
advantage of the working people
of Virginia who live on daily wages
and others in moderate circum-
stances, during this critical period
of shortages in housing, food and
many other of the necessities and
comforts of life
Buckinham Tenants to Meet.
Following an example set Mon-
day night by residents of Park
fairfax apartment development in
Alexandria. tenants of Buckingham.
a large Arlington community, called
a meeting tonight to discuss the
rent and economic problems brought
about by OPA's demise. The meet
ing will be held at $50 pm. in
Bethel Evangelical and Reformed
Church, 4347 Lee boulevard.
In addition to the rent outlook
possible buyers action to stem ris-
) ing prices will be discussed The
; meeting was called by the newly
organized Consumers Committee.
Speakers will be Representative
: Savage, Democrat, of Washington
Robert Sherman of the District
CIO and Miss Muriel Farris of the
National League of Women Voters,