RENT REBATES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Ssa,—Mr. J. P. Orr, in his letter on rent rebates, published on February 6th, refers to the admitted success of the Kensington Housing Trust system. The idea of differentia- tion of rents has had a good run since we corresponded on the matter in your columns four years ago, but as far as can gather, practical experience up to the present has been discouraging. • In Kensington, where there are selected tenants, occupying homes provided by voluntary effort, public funds have not had to pay the cost of the time and experience given to administration by Mr. Orr and his skilled colleagues. But there can • be no comparison between such is voluntary scheme and the application of the principle to such a popula. tiors as that now housed by the London County Council, who number almost as many as the whole of the population of
Nottingham. • - - • .- - .
In the one or two small towns where rent rebates arc allowed, the cost of administration has proved to be very high ; there have been difficulties raised by tenants who strongly object to paying higher rents than their neighbours for the same acconunodation ; there have-been serious arrears in rent payments ; and, in short, according to the officials consulted, the administrative, difficulties are insuperable, unless an army of investigators is employed, or deceit is permitted. -
Can any reader of the Spectator tell me where rent rebates have been adopted on any municipal housing estates except on a small scale, at Cambridge, Welwyn and . Banbury ?=-
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