§ 56. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many houses throughout the country are becoming uninhabitable through the neglect of the owners to put them in reasonable repair; and will he consider the introduction of legislation which will compel owners of house property to spend in repairs the percentage of rents they are allowed to charge?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)The Rent Restrictions Acts contain provisions enabling a tenant to withhold so much of his rent as represents the permitted increase if his premises are not in a reasonable state of repair, and in these circumstances I do not consider that further legislation is necessary.
§ Mr. DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many of these houses the tenants have complained of this increased rent, especially in view of the fact that rats run all over the houses? Will he not take some action?
§ Sir K. WOODI have pointed out the remedy which is to their hand.
§ Major COLFOXIs not the bad state of many of these houses due to want of destruction or to the negligence of the tenants living in them?
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that tenants are not familiar with this extremely useful remedy, and will he advise local authorities who inspect these premises to acquaint them with this remedy?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is another matter.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman ask sanitary officers to convey this information to them?
§ Sir K. WOODI have no authority over sanitary officers.
§ Mr. SILVERMANIs it not a fact that the remedy to which the Minister of Health referred in his answer can be 1101 exercised by the sanitary authority in the district concerned, and will he not therefore draw the attention of the sanitary authorities to their statutory powers with a view to the exercise of these powers by the authorities where the tenants are not aware of the remedy?
§ Sir K. WOODI think that the sanitary authorities are aware of their powers.