§ 41. Major Sir Edward Cadoganasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the landlords of certain blocks of flats, where hot water is constant from a central boiler, are debarred from such economy in fuel as they might be able to exercise owing to the terms of their pre-war leases, which contain the proviso that all tenants of these flats shall 1067 receive constant hot water; and whether any steps can be taken to correct this anomaly?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNot only is the landlord of flats not debarred from exercising economy in fuel but he is compelled to exercise such economy by the General Directions (Central Heating and Hot Water Plants) Nos. 1 and 2 which I have given under the Control of Fuel Order, 1942. The respective rights of landlords and tenants are, of course, for the courts to determine. I am advised, however, that if a landlord is unable to implement his contractual liability to provide constant hot water as a result of the Directions, he is released from his liability to such extent as is necessary to comply with the Directions.