The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-01-08
How New Rent
Sterilization
Will Operate
Virtually All Rental
-
Property In Monroe
County Becomes Subject
To Housing-Rent Act

10 HOusing-Rent Act
Editors note: Following is the
first in a series of articles discus
sing in detail all important provi..
sions of the rent sterilization pro-
gram now in effect in the Key West
area. These articles we're prepared
in cooperation with the Office of
Rent Sterilization and may be
considered authoritative
On Monday, January Z, 1852, a
new, strengthened rent stabiliza-
ton program became effective in
the Key West area.
With that announcement, virtua-
lily all rental property in Monroe
County became subject to the pro-
visions of the Federal Housing and
Rent Act.
That law assures effective stab
ilization of rents in areas of criti-
cal housing shortages. 1t provides
to landlords. II requires that all
rental dwelling property in the
area which has not been under the
sterilization program must be re-
gistered with the Office of Rent
Sterilization not later than Febru-
airy Il, 1852.
Units should be registered at
the Area Rent Office in Key West.
September 1. 1850 has been es-
tabilshed as the base rental date
for rental units that are now being
brought under the sterilization
program. In general, the NAHUM
rent that a landlord will be per-
mitted to charge for such accom-
modations will be the rental rate
in effect September a year ago.
However. if a landlord increased
his rental after September /, 1850,
because of major capital i'm.
provement or additional services.
an adjustment upward from the
base rental will be allowed.
Similarly. if landlord decreas-
ed his services after September /,
1850, or allowed his property to
deteriorate appreciably. an adjust
ment downward may be required
Property which has already been
under rent sterilization need NOT
, be registered again. The maximum
rental already established for such
, accommodations will continue lii
!. force.
The new rent sterilization pro
gram also guarantees tenants lie
tgal protection against capricious OF
arbitrary evictions. At the same
time. landlords are given the RICH
to evict tenants under certain cir
!. cumstances and to recover use
of their property for specific pur
poses.
With the exception of eviction
control, which may require i'm
mediate action on the part of the
Rent Office, most of the provisions
of the regulations governing &C
commodations now being brough,
> under the sterilization program
: cannot be made fully effective un.
!: til completion of registration.
However. though there will be
a necessary lag to allow for re
! gistration, the law is in effect and
: has been in effect since January
II. and any overcharge adjustment
may be made retroactive TO that
date. Landlords who fail TO heed
the provisions of the regulat-
ions may be required to refund
overcharges to their tenants.
Since landlords have until sFeb-
ruary Il to register. tenants with
overcharge complaints may, in
many instances, have to wait I'M
til then.
Actually. most tenants with grie-
: vances won't have TO come TO the
Rent Office at all to state their
problems. After a unit is regis
tered with the Rent Office, the
tenant will be sent a copy Of
the registration. Before the rent
is approved. the tenant will be
given chance TO comment in
writing.
/ Tenants in property which had
previously been under the stab
ilization program should of course
contact the Rent Office at oncn
if they have problems. Since such
units have already been registered.
the Rent Office can ts':e immediate
action In cases of violation.
In any case where tenant or
landlord is dissatisfied with de-
cision of the Area Rent Office an
appeal may be entered.
| Appeals will be heard by the
local Rent Advisory Boards. com
posed of local citizens who serve
without salary. The local Boards
have been given lie authority to
see that rent sterilization is OPP
Grated equitably and justly in keep
ing with local conditions and local
problems.