Rent Act, 1957

HC Deb 10 June 1958 vol 589 cc7-8

10. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many tenants in the London area he now estimates will be evicted in October next.

Mr. H. Brooke

Few.

Mr. Lipton

While the new Landlord and Tenant (Temporary Provisions) Bill may postpone some of the evictions for a little while, has the Minister any idea how many families are to be turned out? Has not he seen the figure of 3,000 families put forward after recent consultations between the London County Council and the Metropolitan boroughs?

Mr. Brooke

I have seen many grossly exaggerated estimates, and, as the hon. Member knows, as he was a member of the Standing Committee, there is a Landlord and Tenant Bill before Parliament at this moment which will clearly have a bearing.

Mr. Mitchison

Does the Minister regard the figure produced by the Metropolitan boroughs as grossly exaggerated or as roughly correct?

Mr. Brooke

I was thinking of one figure which I had seen earlier, which was later reduced by two-thirds by the same people who had made the original estimate.

15. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent the Rent Act, 1957, has increased the number of unfurnished dwellings available for letting in the London area.

Mr. H. Brooke

The Rent Act has given landlords an incentive to re-let unfurnished accommodation as it becomes vacant instead of selling it, as in the past, to avoid control, and there is evidence that this is already happening.

Mr. Lipton

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to tell the House, particularly those Members representing London constituencies, where this new, additional accommodation is becoming available? Does the right hon. Gentleman know what he is talking about? Where is this supply of unfurnished accommodation to let that is supposed now to be on the market?

Mr. Brooke

There are certainly more dwellings coming into the market—[HON. MEMBERS "Where?"]—that otherwise, but for the Rent Act, would not have been let unfurnished. There would, of course, be far more but for the Socialist Party's proposals.

Mr. Lipton

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I must give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.