§ Mr. Talbotasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the Costs of Leases Act, 1958, is being widely evaded by the insistence of landlords, particularly property companies, that 17W tenants still pay landlords' solicitors costs for preparing leases; and, in view of the continual rise in rents, by which solicitors' costs are fixed, if he will introduce legislation to rescind the power to contract out of this Act.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Costs of Leases Act, 1958, contains an express provision whereby the parties to a lease may, by agreement in writing, make their own arrangements for the payment of the costs of their solicitors. I do not, therefore, consider that the practice described in my hon. Friend's Question constitutes an evasion of the provisions of the Act and I have no information that indicates that it ought to be amended in the way suggested by him.