Rent

To the Editors of the Crimson:

I would like to reply to the February 17th letter from eight of the more than forty tenants at 22-24 Prescott Street by providing some facts about the situation there.

Well over a year ago, repair problems were brought to our attention. Since then, we have corrected all of them, many of which were minor to begin with. The only exception involves the completion of exterior wall work held up by the cold weather. So far as rent increases are concerned, Harvard Real Estate has done no more than follow the procedures stipulated by the Cambridge Rent Control Board. Our petition for a rent increase was presented to the Rent Control Board and the tenants presented their case. These are a matter of public record. Inspections of the building have also been made and conditions reported to the Board.

In sum, the rent increases we are seeking are only those approved by the Rent Control Board, nothing more. To me, this is not arrogance but simply fair play. S.H. Zeckhauser, President   Harvard Real Estate, Inc.