Evening star., 1950-06-25
Rent Controls End
In Virginia, With
New Rates in Force
By Robert G. RoIIinos

BY Robert {. RollIngs
Rent controls ended in Virginia
today, but the bulk Of the Nation
continued under restrictions as
the result of legislation signed
this week by President Truman.
The Virginia General Assembly
last February passed q law, de-
claring rent control no longer
needed and set June 10 as the
date for it to end. With Is days
notice to the housing expediter,
the ending date fell today.
Actually, I. Chance Buchanan,
area rent director for the Alex
andria- Arlington and Front Royal
defense rental areas, closed his
Office at the end of the business
day on Friday. eight years to the
day after he transferred from the
Federal Trade Commission to the
then new Office.
$4,000 Units Involved.
In the Alexandria Arlington
area, which included Fairfax
County and the Dumfries Magis-
terial District of Prince William
County, there are more than 50,-
900 rental units which were under
the housing Office.
The figure does not include
units constructed since February,
1947, most of which were financed
with FHA-insured mortgages.
Rent rises for many Of those units
must be approved by the Federal
Housing Authority.
The full effect of decontrol on
renters in Virginia has not been
determined. Some of the larger
developments have announced
rent boosts; others have said
charges will not be raised, while
still others have made no an
noucement.
Many rents were raised under
terms of the 1947 and 1948 Hous-
ing and Rental Acts which per-
mitted landlords and tenants to
enter into voluntary" agreements
for Is per cent increases.
Greatest in County.
"In the Alexandria Arlington
area we had more than $4,000 of
these rent-increase leases" Mr..
Buchanan recalled. This was
greater in proportion 20 the num-
ber of units than in any other
place in the country"
After the leases expired, Mr.
Buchanan pointed out, landlords
had the right to continue to
charge the higher rent.
In one 1,800-unit development,
Mr.. Buchanan said, there were
more than 1,700 voluntary agree
ments completed. In addition to
the voluntary" Boosts, there have
been many increases allowed for
other reasons.
ANY increases as the result Of
decontrol." he continued, will be
in addition to raise already
granted" he said.
In some instances, the increases
in monthly rentals have been as
much as so per cent. Buckingham
Apartments, with 1913 units, an
nounced that boosts there would
average slightly less than 10 per
cent.
At Colonial Village Il 1850 units)
and Arlington Village (655 units)
no rent increases are planned but
a new telephone service charge
OF $3.50 will be imposed and rates
will go up from 5 to 10 cents
per call after Friday.
There has been no announce
ment at darlington $500 units)
but at neighboring Parkfairfax
d,600 units) increases will aver
age 10.5 per cent. At the latter
development, there were less than
200 voluntary" IS per cent leases
executed.
Records To Be Studied.
AS Mr.. Buchanan closed up his
office, he was pleased about one
thing: His records have been Sc
lected by the National Office for
a future study of the subject of
rent control.
Mr.. Buchanan considered the
action quite a compliment. Ordi-
narily, the records are simply
stored in a regional Office with a
selection" sent to the National
Archives.
With % years of Government
service, Mr.. Buchanan has the
privilege of retirement because he
was involuntarily separated from
an agency. He might, however
continue in rent control on the
national level.
But there's one thing he's sure
of-a months vacation from
landlords, tenants and their
problems.