HL Deb 27 February 1975 vol 357 cc991-3

3.22 p.m.

Lord HYLTON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they are giving to local authorities to minimise the time that houses stand empty on reletting and, secondly, to encourage tenants with spare rooms to take in lodgers.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is examining a number of practical measures to secure that privately owned and local authority property which is vacant or under-used is occupied by people in housing need as quickly as possible. He is consulting representatives of local authorities and others concerned and hopes to make a statement soon.

Lord HYLTON

My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. Would the noble Lord agree that standards of housing management vary considerably from one part of the country to another, and that in the present crisis of homelessness it is essential to make maximum use of the existing resources of houses?

Lord MELCHETT

Yes, my Lords, I would entirely agree with that sentiment.

Lord ROYLE

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that his Answer is concerned with flats as well as with houses, because some flats have had up "For Sale" notice boards for years?

Lord MELCHETT

Yes, my Lords. One of the matters which my honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Construction will be looking into is the possibility of making arrangements between owners of empty properties and local authorities, or housing associations, with a view to using these properties on anad hoc basis.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, with regard to the second half of my noble friend's Question, will the noble Lord say when the Government will produce a simplified version of the Rent Act, which would enable resident landlords more easily to understand it and so let rooms? Will they further consider an amendment to the Rent Act, so that resident landlords could regain possession of their own rooms on a second fixed-term letting?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I understand the first part of the noble Baroness's question, but it is, I think, rather outside the scope of the original Question. However, I understand that the document will be available by Easter. On the second part, as the noble Baroness will know, we have no intention of amending the excellent Act to which she referred.

Baroness GAITSKELL

My Lords, can the noble Baroness remember—

Several Noble Lords: Order!

Baroness GAITSKELL

I beg you Lordships' pardon. May I start again? Can the Minister tell us whether he has read the Conservative Party's Rent Act, which was produced under a previous Government, and say whether that is very clear, obvious and simple to understand? Certainly we did not find it so.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I have read the Act in question, and I confess that I find it very difficult to understand.