In 16,000,000 houses, apartments and converted garages, nervous tenants asked themselves the same question: what would happen if rent controls came off? Everyone agreed on the answer: ante up or move into the street. Last week the prospect that controls would be lifted entirely was still remote. But a raise in rent was in the works.
Fortnight ago, Harry Truman had admitted that some "adjustments" in rent controls might be necessary. Last week OPA's advisory committee suggested the adjustment: 1) no ceilings at all on new construction or reconversions; 2) no further controls where landlords offered one-year leases at a 15%...