More Rent Control Mass. House Votes

The Massachusetts House gave initial approval yesterday to legislation to extend local option rent control until the end of 1975.

The present law, which five communities including Cambridge and Boston have used to impose local rent control, expires next April.

The proposed nine-month extension, to which the House gave preliminary approval without debate, has won support from tenants and opposition from landlords throughout the state.

In Cambridge, a number of tenants' groups--most notably the Cambridge Tenants Organizing Committee--have repeatedly organized demonstrations in favor of the local option law as well as against attempts by Independent members of the Cambridge City Council to repeal Cambridge's rent control statute.

The Senate must pass the extension of the local option law before it takes effect.