§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing average local authority domestic rates as a percentage of average male manual earnings in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1977.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe following table sets out the available information. Separate figures of domestic rates paid by manual workers are not available and it would be misleading to attach any significance to the percentage which average total domestic rate payments bear to average manual earnings. However, the changes in the two series, shown as indices, show in broad terms the extent to which domestic rates have risen at a different rate than manual earnings.
Organisation of the Middlesex Polytechnic. The report of the project, "Some Effects of the 1974 Rent Act in London" was published today by the Middlesex Polytechnic and submitted to the Department. I am placing a copy in the Library.
The project analysed applications for possession orders made by resident and non-resident landlords of furnished accommodation before and after the passing of the Rent Act 1974 and advertisements for furnished lettings in The Times, the Evening Standard and 20 local newspapers circulating in inner and outer London. Investigations were also made of local authority data sources 135W and statistics from rent officers and rent tribunals.
Comparing 1975 with 1973, the report finds that there was a fall of nearly half—44 per cent. —in the number of applications for possession orders by nonresident landlords of furnished accommodation at the four London county courts studied, and a very slight increase—3 per cent. —by resident landlords. In the six months before the 1974 Act came into force—on 14th August 1974—there was a substantial increase in applications in both categories, but after the Act both fell again, especially those by nonresident landlords.
TABLE 1 Applications for possession orders for furnished accommodation at four London county courts 1973 1975 Percentage change Applications by: resident landlords … … … … … 797 820 +3. non-resident landlords … … … … … 1,326 741 -44.0 Total applications … … … … … 2,123 1,561 -27.0 Result of applications: Order granted* … … … … … 1,428 881 -38.0 Order granted but suspended indefinitely … … … 69 144 -2.0 Order refused … … … … … 27 48 Other† … … … … … 599 488 * Other than successful orders suspended indefinitely. † Mainly withdrawn, struck out, or adjourned sine die.
TABLE 2 Advertisements for furnished accommodation 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 Net change 1972–73 to1975–76 Per cent. "The Times" … … 6,148 7,428 6,266 6,255 +2.0 "Evening Standard" … … 17,630 16,825 12,669 13,491 -23.0 Inner London Locals … … 5,133 4,968 3,757 4,011 -22.0 Outer London Locals … … 4,415 4,898 3,514 3,524 -20.0 Total … … 33,326 34,119 26,206 27,281 -18.0