Smyrna times., 1947-07-31
EVICTIONS ARE
INCREASED
Magistrates Report Big Jump
In Issuance of Evic-
tiOn Notices
TRIPLED IN MONTH

l clCSl, iidSioti oSSo iSfoASN A
week. In the lower part of the
state, little change in eviction ac-
tivity was reported. The Housing
and Rent Act of 1947 put all evic-
ton proceedings in the hands OF
local magistrates. Formerly own
ers of homes-including new own
ers-who wished to occupy the
premises themselves had to apply
to the rent control Office for a GER
tificate of eviction, and had to wait
up to six months to evict the ten
ant. Now the new owner can go
directly to a magistrate and have
the tenant evicted in 80 days. That
new owners are doing this in vol
ume was indicated by magistrates,
who said the number of eviction
notices issued has gone up fast and
that most of them are being issued
to gain occupancy for new owners.
Tripled During July
Ivory Sharp, constable in the Of
fee of Magistrate Charles j. Cole
man, said that office has issued 50
eviction notices so far this month,
as compared with 80 for all OF last
month. He estimated the July TO-
tai will easily be triple the June
number.
While most of the July notices
are being issued for owners who
claim they wish to occupy the pre-
misses themselves, none of the June
ones was in that category since the
rent control office still had author
ity in that field throughout June.
The trebling of eviction activity
in the magistrates office does not
necessarily indicate tre1ling OF
evictions in the state because the
June figure does not include the
eviction obtained through the rent
control Office.
Actually about half the cviction'
before the law was changed Were
obtai.,, i through the rent ONCE
On the other hand, the change may
be. even greater because, as some
Imagi.;:1 stes reported there was
lull of a week or so in evlctlor
activity Immediately after the new
law went into effect.
other sharp Increases
Magistrate Harold Green of vii
mington and Magistrate ]. H. Ru
mer of Newark, both reported
sharp increases. Magistrate Greel
said that while the number handled
by his office has not been recorded
it will be large this month, ant
that the dates by which many fam
lilies are being required to mov'
fall in the first week in September
The tenants are thus getting lit
tie more than 80 days notice IL
these cases.
Magistrate Runner SAID ina
whereas he issued no eviction no
tices last month, he has already
issued 10 this month, including
four Monday. All 10 were ISSUED
within the last two weeks.
Other magistrates, including ones
in Dover and Georgetown said they
have experienced no increase II
landlords requests for notices tt
move.
Some of them added they are
avoiding handling such cases. An6
some, including those avoiding ant
those accepting eviction cases, de-
clared they do not know the new
federal law which specifies the
grounds for eviction. 1--WE do as
we please" one magistrate com
mented.
Appeal to Red Cross
Meanwhile, harrassed tenants
given only 80 days to find new liv'
ing quarters in the midst of 6
housing shortage, are appealing fol
aid in increasing numbers TO the
Red Cross, it was revealed by Mrs
H. M. Church, director of home
service for the Delaware Chapter
AS the eviction proceedings
mounter, an official of the rent
control Office pointed otu that un
der the new federal law, there are
only five grounds for eviction of 6
tenant who continues to pay the
rent, regardless of whether or moi
he has a lease.
These grounds are:
1. The landlord wants the prop
erty for his own occupancy.
2. The landlord has made writ
ten agreement to sell the accom-
modations to some one else who
wants to move in and live there.
8. The tenant is committing 6
nuisance or is using the accommo-
dations for an immoral or illegal
purpose, for purposes other thar