Evening star., 1953-07-31
Rent Controls End
Tonight in District
And Most Of Nation
By Robert J. Lewis

Oy NODSIN - ISWIS
Living costs, which hit a record
high between May and June, are
due for another upward bump as
rent controls come to an end at
midnight tonight in the District
and over 1000 communities in
other parts of the country.
But how general will be the
rent raises and what they will
amount to in percentage, is any,
body's guess.
Rent Control Administrator
Robert F. Cogswell said some
time ago he expected they would
rise from Is to 33 per cent, but
conceded later that conditions
here have changed since then
as result of Federal job dis
missalS.
Under the circumstances, he
said, he believed boosts would
not reach such high percentages
as he originally forecast.
Most real estate industry
sources have been claiming the
average increase won't exceed 10
per cent. In view of the increas-
ing number of apartment vacan-
cieS, many persons acquainted
with the rental situation are
convinced landlords will go slow
in announcing rent raises unless
they wish to face a vacancy
problem.
Costly Repair a Factor.
Some landlords, too, have been
considering a policy of not rails
ing rents at all on the theory
that in this way they will avoid
demands for costly repair and
redecoration work which tenants
in the past have been handling
themselves.
Both the District Rent Con-
troll Administration and the
Federal Rent Sterilization Office
will cease to function after to-
day, though a standby force was
authorized to stay in readiness
for national emergencies. The
Federal office also will admin
ister controls in critical defense
areas having 10000 units.
In the District, no provision
has been made to re-establiSh
emergency controls, though it is
likely this could quickly be
remedied by Congress if the need
arose.
The Federal Rent Office said
today total of about five mil
lion units throughout the coun-
try will be freed from controls
after tomorrow. At the height
of rent control activity during
World War II, a total of 16 mil
lion units were under control.
Gradually curbs were lifted in
different areas by Federal or
local action.
In Connecticut, Kansas, New
York, Massachusetts and New
Jersey, State curbs are either in
operation or on the books.
Congress- decision to remove
controls came after periodic ac-
tions were taken to weaken the
rent law as the housing shortage
became less acute. Some orga-
nizations, notably the Washing
ton Housing Association in the
District, have continued vigor-
ously to contend lifting of con-
trolls is still not jusitfiable.
Few Protests Received.
The Washington Housing AS
sociation sponsored a last-min-
utet campaign inviting protests
to the District Commissioners.
but relatively few protests were
made and the Commissioners re-
fused to request continuance of
the curbs. This association has
indicated it expects to maintain
a close watch over the rent sit
uation and call abuses to the
attention of officials, espically as
rent raises affect low-income
tenants.
Senator Nicely, Democrat, Of
Virginia, yesterday introduced a
bill to extend rent controls in
the District until next June 80.
But Chairman Case of the Sem
ate District Committee promptly
shelved the measure by an
nouncing that it was too i'm
portant to consider without pub
lie hearings, and it was too late
to hold hearings before Congress
adjournS.