To the Editor of the "Norta-Cuina Dairy News."
Sir,—With reference to your remarks in to-day's issue of the "NAE. D. N." regarding the difference in property values here and at home, and the profits that can be made here in land and building, the following may be of some interest as showing that profiteering on the part of certain landlords is still going on in Shanghai.
I have occupied my present house for nine years, since it was first built in fact, and have renewed the lease three times. From the time I first took the house until 1920, the rental was Tls. 90. That year it was increased to Tls. 100. A few months later it was further increased to Tls. 125. When the lease was last renewed, a clause was inserted to the effect that in the event of the property being sold before the expiry of the lease, we might be given six months' notice to leave.
Some weeks ago we were notified that another firm of land agents had taken over the management of the property.
A day or sq ago, the new agents wrote us that the property had been sold, and that our lease would therefore expire on a certain date, (some monthd earlier than the actual expiry of the lease). They inform us that they are prepared to grant a new lease at a rental of Tls. 140 but the landlord will do no repairs to the house. They also notify us that in the event of the property again being sold, we may be given another six months' notice to leave. They give us until the end of August, and no longer, consider the matter.. Even if we agree to the renewal of the lease at an increased rental (an increase of 55 per cent. on the original rent), we may be faced with the prospect of the property being.sold again, another six months' notice before the expiry of the lease, and probably another increase of rent.
A profitable procedure this, from the landlord's point of view, but very unsatisfactory for the unfortunate tenant.
Can nothing be done to put a stop to the continued profiteering on the part of some landlords? What is badly wanted in Shanghai are more houses at a. moderate rental, say Tls. 75 to 100, suitable for small families,. but even with so many' houses going up in all parts of the Settlement and French Concession it is difficult to find such. 7 I might mention that the surroundings of the above mentioned house are not-nearly as_ pleasant as they were some years ago, a number of Chinese houses and small shops having been built in the vicinity. What was then open country is now almost entirely built over by Chinese, foreign and semi-foreign houses. I might also add that there is no garage or stable attached to the house, and the garden is not big enough for tennis.
If you can see your way to in-
Re
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.