But there are also landlords who neglect their
houses, who make no repairs except under com-
pulsion, who care little whether their tenants
suffer inconveniences and sanitary evils, and
whose chief interest is in obtaining from their
properties the largest possible return upon their
investment. Similarly with regard to the tenants:
there are good tenants and bad tenants. The
conception of some landlords that most tenants
are destructive, disorderly, anxious to get all they
can out of the landlord, willing to leave with
many months' rent unpaid, is applicable only to
a limited number.
Finally, regard must be had for the welfare of
the community. T he injury caused to _the_whole
socialjFabric, the effect of bad housing con ditions
i n , prod uxing-JVic.e,lxxime^_4ioyert}^_diseasej^ sick-
ness, -deaths- . must-._be-,weighed^-and_xonsidered.
The community has an interest in such questions

43



HOUSING REFORM

quite equal to that of the landlord and the tenant.
All these various interests must be fairly consid-
ered. No one must unduly preponderate.
The housing problem is in another sense a three-
fold one, and must be considered with regard to
the existing conditions, the laws, and their
administration. Beyond all other things effort
at housing reform must proceed upon carefully
ascertained exact knowledge of the conditions
which require remedy. The laws which are put
into effect to remedy those conditions must not
be arbitrary enactments based upon the theoretical
views of social enthusiasts, but must be the result
of carefully worked-out, practical consideration of
the problems involved, and adapted to the peculiar
local conditions it is sought to remedy.
