§ 37. Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will intro 414 duce legislation to bring within the Rent Act, 1968, the rents of garages within the curtilage of a block of flats or a house, and which are let to tenants of such premises and which are subject to that Act.
§ Mr. ChannonUnder the Rent Act, 1968, such rents can already be assessed where the garages are let together with the dwellings.
§ Mr. BurdenIt is not those cases which I wish to bring to the attention of my hon. Friend; it is those cases in which garages are let separately but are part of the building. It is a fact that some landlords, where fair rents have been declared for flats, are taking advantage of the fact that a garage is not so tied and are raising the garage price to offset the decision of rent officers and panels.
§ Mr. ChannonThe normal practice is that if the garage is attached or is in the garden, as a general rule it is deemed to be part of the whole dwelling and fair rent principles apply. If my hon. Friend sends me details, I shall be glad to consider any particular case he cares to raise.