Evening star., 1953-07-07
'Cogswe|| Predicts
Rent Rises Adding
81 Million a Year

OlSCTlCC fCenC IOnCrOl AOmln"
iStrator Robert F. Cogswell today
estimated Washington residents
will pay an added rent bill of
more than 81 million annually.
when controls die July 81.
Morris Cafritz, Washington
real estate man. has already
announced rent increases of 10
to IS per cent in some of his
properties. effective September l..
With District rent control out
at the end of the month, the
Federal Housing Administration
will still maintain a brake on
rising rents on properties in
which it is directly interested.
Mr.. Cogswell explained his
estimate of the added rent bill
was made on the basis of returns
made in his Office up to June 80.
predicated on rents previously
requested.
Believes Notice Is Required.
The rent administrator be-
lieves landlords are required to
give tenants 80 days clear
notice of any increase in rent.
He said some landlords have not
given notice June 30-a month
before his Office expires.
1T is my opinion when a real
estate man increases the rent to
a higher figure. that changes
the existing tenancy, requiring
that the tenant be given 80 days
clear notice." Mr.. Cogswell de-
clared.
He has so advised landlords
seeking his advice, he said. He
said the 81 million added rent
figure is on buildings where the
rent was frozen first on January
/, 1941. and if the advance is
only 10 per cent. He explained
his Office has made no estimate
Of the increase Of rents in new
buildings, on which rents were
frozen January /, 1851. But he
pointed out the added amount
would be substantial.
II said heretofore I thought
rents would go up from IS to 80
per cent" the rent administrator
declared. But I hope the rest
of the landlords will follow the
example of Mr.. Cafritz.
II feel there will be a rent in
crease, but due to unsettled con-
ditions brought about by the
great numbers Of Government
employees who have been released
from service here, it will not be
as great as previously antici-
pated."
Predicts Rise Under 10 Per Cent.
Hugh v. Gliding. jr., executive
secretary. Washington Real Es-
tate Board, declared: Most Of the
real estate men do not think the
overall adjustments will amount
to as much at 10 per cent.
Building in Washington has
been tremendous during the past
several years. 50 there is no
shortage of apartments and
houses. The ever-lengthening
For Rent columns in all the
daily newspapers also point to
the fact that there is no shortage.
when controls went off in
Virginia, there was no great in
crease in rents and We do not
expect any excessive rentals
charged here. after July 81, when
controls go off"
An FILA spokesman explained: {:
Projects which were built un-
der Title 608 of the National
Housing Act can only be raised
after the expiration of rent con-
troll If they get prior approval
of the FHA. But this could be
done at any time.
I'VE are preferred stockhold-
ers of these corporations and we
have to agree to any rent in
crease. A real estate man has
to come in with operating state
mentS and expenses so we can
check them to make sure he is
receiving a fair rent on his in
vestment and not an exorbitant
one"
Mr.. Cafritz owns or manages
about 1000 apartment units in
the Washington area.
He said his rent boosts in pre-
war apartments will average
about Is per cent in air-condi-
toned buildings and about 10
per cent in other apartments.
Tenants have received letters no.
tifying them that increases will
be put into effect September /.
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