HC Deb 13 November 1974 vol 881 cc388-9
4. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for rent increases have been received from rent officers since 1st October in each area from landlords of controlled houses and flats and also from landlords of regulated accommodation; and when he will introduce legislation to continue the freeze of rents before 31st December in the former case and a restriction of rent increases in the latter as undertaken in the Labour election manifesto.

Mr. Freeson

The Housing Rents and Subsidies Bill, introduced on 6th November will halt the decontrol programme of the Housing Finance Act 1972 and restrict rent increases in regulated tenancies. The current rent freeze will be extended to 31st March 1975, pending enactment of the Bill. Between 1st and 25th October rent officers received 28,902 applications for controlled or formerly controlled tenancies and 10,682 for already regulated tenancies. I will, with permission, circulate the breakdown by rent assessment panel areas in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Allaun

May I welcome the continued freeze on controlled tenants who lack the basic amenities? However, does not the Bill that is to come before the House on Monday fail to keep the pledge to the others, the great majority of private landlord tenants, some of whom are now facing rent increases of more than £400 a year, which is both unfair and inflationary?

Mr. Freeson

The Bill does not in any way run in conflict with the pledges made by the Government in the recent General Election. It will implement those pledges. With regard to the type of cases my hon. Friend mentioned, we are still considering whether some form of restraint on individual cases might be practicable. Certainly I would welcome any detailed information on particular cases so that this could be taken into account.

Mr. Adley

Does the hon. Gentleman think that the good private landlord has a right to exist?

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED 1ST OCTOBER 1974 TO 25TH OCTOBER 1974
Rent Assessment Panel Registration Area General de-control s. 35 HFA Following qualification certificate Part III HFA Other formerly rent controlled Already regulated
London … … … … … … 8,310 22 8 3,057
Northern … … … … … … 2,382 186 8 1,301
Yorkshire … … … … … … 1,725 122 1 738
Greater Manchester and Lancashire … … 3,157 46 1 983
Merseyside and Cheshire … … … … 2,565 27 12 713
West Midland … … … … … 2,272 29 7 920
East Midland … … … … … 2,629 81 — 762
Eastern … … … … … … 1,438 14 3 435
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire 308 6 — 174
Thames Valley … … … … … 109 1 5 92
Bristol … … … … … … 227 7 — 170
Devon and Cornwall … … … … 247 3 2 196
Southern … … … … … … 371 3 3 257
Surrey and Sussex … … … … 360 12 1 461
Kent … … … … … … 1,467 7 9 228
England … … … … … … 27,567 566 60 10,487
Wales … … … … … … 687 18 4 195
TOTAL … … … … … … 28,254 584 64 10,682
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