THE FURNISHED-ROOMS RACKET
Sm,—Two of the primary needs of mankind are food and she Absence of either makes life, or civilised life, impossible. Be of this, fear and anxiety about either is highly destructive of nor Partial appreciation of these facts is shown by the Government's pr control of essential food, but the other, equally vital, factor—the of shelter—has been left almost untouched. The result is that every reception-area evidence accumulates to an appalling degree gross and flagrant profiteering in the rents of furnished rooms is t place, and the scandal is growing. Councils are confronted with most distressing details of shameful exploitation. They refrain action because of the difficulty of ever obtaining a conviction. F the interpretations of what constitutes a "rent which yields a p, which in regard to all circumstances is extortionate " are so % that magistrates refuse to convict, and, secondly, the victim et withdraws when he realises he has no protection against e% while his case is being considered. Anyone who knows the app difficulty of obtaining alternative accommodation in these areas that fear of being turned out is equivalent to blackmail in favour the profiteer.
We have arbitrary price-control of essential foods. The purch pays irrespective of quality. The time has come to make similar trary control of rents of furnished rooms. It is obvious that, the varying amenities offered as " furnished rooms," to wait for perfectly equitable formula is to wait for ever. It doesn't exist, it is possible to devise a formula based on rateable value, number rooms and amenities enjoyed, which would guide magistrates reasonably fair conclusions. Councils who are now anxious to UM this blemish from their boundaries would then take action, kno the certainty of conviction in thoroughly bad cases. Such a font -and such action is needed immediately. The faith of the people this country in Parliament's ability to fashion a brave new in the future would be much strengthened if, in the mundane pr the activities of the exploiter, who has had nearly two years' rut hampering the war-effort and undermining morale, were finally firmly controlled.—Yours faithfully, J. P. Bons. 4 Gorsey Road, Nottingham.
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