§ 22. Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to ensure that housing associations consult him before putting into effect decisons to evict their tenants.
§ Mr. MacCollNo, Sir. Under the Rent Act 1965 a housing association may not obtain possession without a court order, and I have no reason to suppose that housing associations would in general act unreasonably in seeking to evict a tenant. If my hon. Friend has in mind a particular case about which he recently wrote to my right hon. Friend, I will, with his permission, willingly pursue inquiries on his behalf.
§ Mr. BrooksBut does not the specific case illustrate the danger of arguing from the general case? It is surely anomalous that tenants of housing associations who build on the basis of loans from the central Government should apparently be less protected than the ordinary tenant in private property?
§ Mr. MacCollA housing association, if it is properly administered, is administered without regard to profit and so as to do an important housing job, which my right hon. Friend wants to see encouraged.