HC Deb 21 June 1920 vol 130 cc1849-50

8.0 P.M.

(1) Nothing in this Act shall be taken to authorise any increase of rent except in respect of a period during which but for this Act the landlord would be entitled to obtain possession, or any increase in the rate of interest on a mortgage except in respect of a period during which, but for this Act, the security could be enforced.

(2) Notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, where the rent of any dwelling-house to which this Act applies is increased, no such increase shall be due or recoverable until or in respect of any period prior to the expiry of four clear weeks, or, where such increase is on account of an increase in rates, one clear week, after the landlord has served upon the tenant a valid notice in writing of his intention to increase the rent, accompanied by a statement of the amount of the proposed increase, and—

  1. (a) where the increase is on account of expenditure on improvements or structural alterations, by a statement of the improvements or alterations effected and of their cost; and
  2. (b) where the increase is on account of an increase in rates, by a statement showing particulars of the increased amount charged in respect of rates on the dwelling-house; and
  3. (c) in any other case by a statement of what the landlord alleges to be the standard rent and what the landlord alleges to be the net rent of the premises, and the percentages of any proposed increases.
Where such a notice has been served on any tenant the increase may be continued without service of any fresh notice on any subsequent tenant.

Mr. MORISON

I beg to move in Sub section (2) to leave out the words accompanied by a statement of the amount of the proposed increase, and—

  1. (a) where the increase is on account of expenditure on improvements or structural alterations, by a statement of the improvements or alterations effected and of their cost; and
  2. (b) where the increase is on account of an increase in rates, by a statement showing particulars of the increased amount charged in respect of rates on the dwelling-house; and
  3. (c) in any other case by a statement of what the landlord alleges to be the standard rent and what the landlord alleges to be the net rent of the premises, and the percentages. of any proposed increases."
and to insert instead thereof, the words which notice shall be in the form contained in the First Schedule to this Act, or in a form substantially to the same effect. If a notice served as aforesaid contains any statement or representation which is false or misleading in any material respect, the landlord shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds unless he proves that the statement was made innocently and without intent to deceive. This Amendment carries out a promise given in Committee. It is purely a matter of form, and not substance, and, as it carries out in another form the purpose of the Bill, I do not think I require to detain the House by giving any detailed. explanation.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. MORISON

I beg to move in Subsection (2) to leave out the words "such a notice" and to insert instead thereof "a notice of an increase of rent which at the same time was valid."

This is a small drafting Amendment consequential on the preceding Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.