§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practice of speculators purchasing the freeholds, of working-class property in London and immediately afterwards serving schedules of dilapidations upon the leaseholders in order to force them either to purchase the freehold at an exorbitant price or to lose their property and whether he will take steps to prohibit a ground landlord from serving a schedule of dilapidations upon any leaseholder who can produce a certificate from the local sanitary 286W authority that the premises are in a reasonable state of repair and decoration?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI am aware that hardship is sometimes created by the service of schedules of dilapidations upon leaseholders; but I am not aware that the practice is increasing. No alteration can be made except by legislation, and I am unable to hold out any hope, in the present state of Parliamentary business, that such legislation would be possible, even if desirable. The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that by the Law of Property (Amendment) Act passed at the end of last year, which is now incorporated in the Law of Property Act, 1925 (Part V, Section 147), power was given to the Court to relieve against notices to repair during the currency of the lease.