§ 17. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in amending the law relating to liability for repairs, he will also fix a multiple of the gross value as the maximum rent for dwellings in the London area.
§ Mr. H. BrookeNo, Sir.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the Minister aware that many tenants are too scared to complain 821 of the intimidation and extortion arising from the rent racket in London at present, because they know that the Minister is on the side of the landlords all the time and that they themselves cannot expect any justice from him? Is he quite incapable of suggesting what a reasonable rent should be, using the gross value as a factor, rather than letting this whole problem be settled by jungle warfare?
§ Mr. BrookeThe Minister is not on the side of either the landlords or the tenants. He is on the side of the houses. These gross values were fixed in relation to 1939, and the fact is that some areas have become more popular and other areas have become less popular since 1939, so that there is no single multiplier that would be applicable everywhere.