§ 4. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that former tenants of small shops and, in particular, those who live in premises, part of which is a shop, have been deprived of their tenancies because the landlords wanted them for their own purposes without having to profess or prove any need for the premises or hardship if they should be denied the use thereof; and whether he will take steps to amend the law so as to make such a process impossible.
§ Mr. H. BrookePossession of a combined shop and dwelling-house can only be obtained without proof of greater hardship to the landlord if the premises are outside the rateable value limits for rent control. In such cases the tenant enjoys substantially the same protection under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, as he would under the Rent Act, 1957, unless the landlord wishes to reoccupy the premises himself or to reconstruct them, and can satisfy the court of this. If the tenant has to give up the premises, he is entitled to compensation. I see no injustice in these provisions.
§ Mr. JannerThe Minister cannot have considered this matter at all. Does he not realise that all that a landlord has to do is to ask for possession of the place for himself, irrespective of how many other shops or premises he has, and he is entitled to possession? Will the Minister do something about this? Many people are affected.
§ Mr. BrookeThis has been the state of the law now for two and a half years. I am not aware that I have received any complaint at all from any part of the country, except from the hon. Gentleman. If he has specific cases to give me, I will gladly look into them.