Cambridge to Make Rent Adjustments

Federal and local governments have filed civil suits against one of Cambridge's largest landlords charging that he raised rents illegally.

The U.S. attorney's office is charging Harlow Properties Inc. and its president Robert M. Harlow with demanding rents in excess of those allowed by the Economic Stabilization Board.

The company has 21 apartment buildings with 539 rental units in Cambridge.

The U.S. attorney's office is asking for an injunction to bar the company and its president from asking tenants for higher rents and is also asking for a $5000 fine against each of the two defendants.

Attorneys for the tenants have asked that their local case be attached to the federal case.

Andrew A. Caffrey, chief judge of the, U.S. District Court, will probably hear the case within a month.