HL Deb 18 December 1919 vol 38 cc437-9

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE in the Chair.]

Clause 1:

Orders of possession.

1.—(1) After the passing of this Act no order or judgment for the recovery of possession of a dwelling-house to which the Increase of Rent, &c., Act of 1915 (hereinafter called the principal Act) or any of the Acts amending the same applies, or for the ejectment of a tenant there from, shall be made or given, so long as the tenant continues to pay rent at the agreed rate as modified by the principal Act or any of the Acts amending the same and performs the other conditions of the tenancy, unless— (a) the tenant has committed waste or has been guilty of conduct which is a nuisance or an annoyance to adjoining or neighbouring occupiers, and the court considers it reasonable to make such an order or give such judgment; or

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I rise to move an Amendment in this Clause in deference to a representation that was made last night by the noble Viscount, Lord Midleton, who put down this Amendment and would have moved it himself had it been possible for him to stay. My noble friend felt some anxiety lest the necessary and conceded benefit of this Bill might be enjoyed by some tenant who, by subletting a dwelling house or any part thereof, or by taking in lodgers shall make a profit which, having regard to the rent paid, was unreasonable; and he desired that where the Court considered it unreasonable, it could make such an order or give such a judgment. With the guidance of my noble friend's Amendment, I have no doubt that this Bill will alleviate very considerable public mischief.

Amendment moved—

Clause 1, page 1, line 18, at the end insert: (b) the tenant by sub-letting a dwelling house or any part thereof or by taking in lodgers is making a profit which having regard to the rent paid by the tenant is unreasonable, and the court considers it reasonable to make such an order or give such judgment, or."—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 1, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 2:

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I have a drafting Amendment on this clause.

Amendment moved— Clause 2, page 3, line 2, after ("and") insert ("shall").—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

Then (Standing Order XXXIX having been suspended), Report of Amendments received; Bill read 3a and passed, and sent to the Commons.