§ 81. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the practice of applicants for houses to rent offering large sums of money for alleged fittings and advertising these offers before seeing such fittings; and, as key money and fittings comprise a contravention of the Housing Acts, what steps he will take to end this practice.
§ Mr. MaclayThe hon. Lady drew my predecessor's attention to examples of this practice.
Already there are provisions in the Rent Acts prohibiting the exaction of premiums, which include excessive charges for furniture and fittings, as a condition of grant of a tenancy of a controlled house. To require a premium is made a punishable offence and the sums paid may be ordered by the court to be repaid. There is nothing in the Rent Acts which specifically prohibits a tenant from making an offer, of his own free will, to pay a premium but the existence of the statutory provisions should deter landlords from taking advantage of any such offers by tenants.