Evening star., 1953-08-01
Few Landlords
Raise Rents as
Controls Expire
Case Takes Note,
However, of Protests
In Foirfox Village
By Robert J. Lewis

Only a small percentage Of
District area tenants were under
notice today of impending rent
as landlords pursued
a cautious policy following ex-
piration of rent curbs at mid
night last night.
A spot check yesterday showed
that few landlords were willing
to indicate their intentions be-
fore the District Rent Control
Administration had folded up.
But Chairman Case of the
Senate District Committee said
complaints have been coming to
him from renters in the Fairfax
Village in Southeast Washington
of high rent increases.
Tenants have been calling
him. he said, complaining that
the rates they now will have to
pay were much higher than they
had been led to expect.
Some, for instance. told him
they had understood the raise
would be about 18 per cent. but
when official notices we're re-
ceived, increases turned out to
be % per cent.
Sees Legislation Possibility.
Concerned over the COM
plants, Senator Case, Republic
can, of South Dakota declared:
IF landlords impose too high
increases we may have to give
some consideration to some kind
of standby rent control"
Pending in the Senate District
Committee is a bill by Senator
Neely, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia, to extend curbs here to
June 80 next year. But with
Congress driving toward ad-
journment Senator Case recently
said this extension measure was
too important to approve with
out hearings, and there now was
not sufficient time to hold hear
ings.
So far today, only a few ten
ants were reported to have re-
ceived notifications.
The city's largest management
firms reported that few owners
whom they serve had requested
that tenants be notified to ex-
pect rent raises.
Appear Hesitant.
The mass of landlords seemed
to be hesitant, appearing to want
to wait awhile before deciding
what to do.
Whether this actually meant
principally a desire not to upset
the decontrol applicant or was
reflection of an uncertainty
over the rental market was not
clear,
For some time spokesmen Of
the real estate industry have
been counseling a go-Slow policy,
both as to announcement of in
creaSes and as to the amount
of rent boosts.
A recent newsletter of the
Building Owners and Managers
Association quoted one of its
members as saying:
I'm going to do nothing
(about rent increases) for three
months. The worst mistake I
could make is to raise rents now
and find my rent gross reduced
by vacancies. I'll decide what to
do after the smoke clears"
Another View.
On the other hand, the same
letter quoted other landlords as
feeling that 80 long as rent con-
troll is in effect, there is no point
in planning changes, let alone
shouting from housetops,"
Whatever the ultimate trend
may be, it seemed fairly clear on
this first decontrol day that the
bulk of landlords don't want
quick changes. but gradual
changes.
If the rental market permits
them to do so, they will raise
rents. But many responsible
owners are convinced that to
avoid the possibility of a renewal
of curbs, demands for sharp in
creases must be Stunned.
Some old-line property man.
agement firms said they thought
there would be relatively few
rent increases here before Oc-
tober.
Most owners are following .
wait-and-see policy" one man
agement firm official said. MY
personal feeling is that there are
not going to be as many in
creases as owners at one time felt
would be justified.
100 Per Cent Once Reported.
On the other hand, there have
been reports some landlords ex-
pected to "readjust" rents, in
some cases, by as much as so and
100 per cent. These have been
reports only, and no actual case
has as yet been reported in
volving such an increase.
A number of District area or
ganizations have indicated they'll
keep a close watch on the situa-
tion. Latest to announce it would
keep tabs on the rent-boost pic
ture was the District Chapter.
Americans for Democratic Ac-
ton.
That organization announced
yesterday it will invite other or
ganizations to join with it in
forming committee to keep in
close touch with developments"
Ben Segal. chapter chairman.
said the committee would present
to Congress in January its find
ings on the decontrol impact.
Mr.. Segal warned that land
lords may impose waves" Of
rent boosts.
There is real cause to fear
that the first increase may be
followed by a second and third