INCREASES OF RENT.
(To THE Emma or Ta " Seeenroa."] Sm,—The discussion in Parliament which preceded the passing of the Increase of Rent (Restrictions) Act on April 2nd has created some confusion in the public mind, and fhis confusion is being turned by certain landlords, generally I think of the builder type, to their own profit. These landlords give notice to their tenants, no matter for what term the tenancy may happen to run, that the rent will be increased by 10 per cent. at the expiration of one month from the date of the notice, and state that landlords have been given the right to make this increase by the recent Act of Parliament. This is by no means true. A landlord is not given any right to break his contract of tenancy, and cannot increase the rent except in cases in which he could make the increase if no such Aot of Parlia- ment had been passed. For example, if the tenancy is a yearly tenancy, the landlord cannot increase the rent unless he first puts an end to the tenancy by giving the proper six months' notice terminating at the proper date, or comes to new terms with his tenant for an increase in the rent. The Act merely restricts any increase of rent that apart from the Act could legally be enforced to 10 per cent. increase upon the rental payable (in ordinary cases) on August 9rd, 1914. Tenants whose term of tenancy exceeds one month should beware of this attempt to extract from them an increase of rent before their existing tenancy is brought to an end.—I am, Sir, &c., K. C.
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