HC Deb 21 June 1920 vol 130 cc1955-7

(1) Section three of the Poor Rate Assessment and Collection Act, 1869, shall have effect as though for the limits of value specified in that section there were substituted limits twenty-five per cent. in excess of the limits so specified, and that section and section four of the same Act shall have effect accordingly.

(2) It shall be deemed to be a condition of the tenancy of any dwelling-house to which this Act applies that the tenant shall afford to the landlord access thereto and all reasonable facilities for executing therein any repairs which the landlord is entitled to execute.

(3) Where the landlord of any dwelling-house to which this Act applies has served a notice to quit on a tenant, the acceptance of rent by the landlord for a period not exceeding three months from the expiration of the notice to quit shall not be deemed to prejudice any right to possession of such premises.

Major GRAY

I beg to move, in Subsection (1), after the word "shall" ["shall have effect"], to insert the words "except so far as it relates to the Metropolis."

The Amendment deals with Section 3 of the Poor Rates Assessment Collection Act, 1869, and that Section is the one under which compounding takes place. The local authority and the landlord may reach an agreement whereby the landlord shall pay the rates, receiving 25 per cent. commission for the discharge of that duty. In the London area the rateable value of the property on which this compounding may take place is £20. It is £13 in Liverpool, £10 in Manchester and Birmingham, and £8 elsewhere. The House will notice, therefore, that the sum is very much higher in London than outside the Metropolis. The local authorities in London, I am advised, are very much disinclined to see this limit enlarged.

Dr. ADDISON

I think the Amendment is a perfectly fair one, and I shall be prepared to accept it.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. LORDEN

I beg to move in Sub-section (1), to leave out the word "twenty" ["twenty-five per cent."], and to insert instead thereof the word "thirty."

I do this because in the Committee I desired to move a new Clause and the Minister for Health stated that he did not see how they could deal with a new Clause, but that I should move something in substitution. This is a matter which affects the tenant, but does not affect the landlord at all. You have put on the tenant that he has to bear the increase of rates, whatever that may be, and in this case if you only put on 25 per cent. the compounding amount will be exceeded and the result will be that there will be no compounding in the case of the tenant, and that will put his rates up some 15 per cent. Therefore, I feel that something should be done to bring it into line with what it will actually be. I believe if you work it out it comes that you want 35 per cent., so that the tenant does not have to bear the increase, and that compounding can take place as well. That will be a very great concession to the tenant and many of us are desirous that both the landlord and the tenant should be fairly treated, although, perhaps, one side has had more consideration under this Bill than the other.

Mr. CAUTLEY

I beg to second the Amendment.

Dr. ADDISON

The purpose of the Amendment is to raise the compounding limit. It is clear that we ought not, by the operation of this Bill, to exclude, by the increase of rent which you allow, from the compounding benefits such properties as are already getting the benefit. At the same time I do think we ought, in respect of this Bill, to alter the general compounding basis. Therefore, we have to seek a figure which will secure that properties which now have the benefit of compounding shall continue to receive that benefit. I have gone through the figures and I find that the 25 per cent. we propose in the Bill amply covers the property which has the benefit of compounding. I can assure my hon. Friend that it leaves a considerable margin, and, therefore, there is no warrant for accepting the Amendment.

Amendment negatived.