81. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he has in mind to ensure that landlords offer suitable alternative accommodation to tenants of decontrolled properties before giving them notice to quit under the provisions of Section 11 of the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI hope that all landlords who can offer suitable alternative accommodation will do so, but it would not be reasonable to make this a requirement in every case.
§ 86. Mr. George Craddockasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take powers to enable him to arrange for the rehousing of persons evicted under the provisions of the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Mr. H. BrookeLocal authorities already have adequate powers to arrange for the housing of any persons in need.
§ 94. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that, on the expiration of a tenancy of a dwellinghouse which has become decontrolled under the Rent Act, 1957, the occupier can be ejected after 6th October, 1958, and his effects removed from the dwellinghouse by the landlord without an order being obtained for this purpose from a court unless the occupation is protected owing to a provision of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the position by amending the law relating to possession.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI am advised that, because of legal difficulties, landlords would not in fact find it practicable to enforce a valid notice to quit unfurnished premises without obtaining an order for possession from the Court.
§ 99. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he intends to take to safeguard from eviction the families of Mildwater, 35, Mitchell Road, Palmers Green. London, N.13, Mackenzie, Eastgate, Orient Drive, 121W Gateacre, Liverpool, Smith, 10, Norwood Grove, Liverpool, 6, and Miss S. Miller, 85, Grove Hall Court, London, N.W.8, where in each case, details of which have been sent to him, the owners are acting harshly against the long resident tenants.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have already warned landlords who have not yet made agreements with their tenants that they should now negotiate on reasonable terms. It is only fair to add, however, that according to the particulars the hon. Member has sent to me one tenant has been offered a new agreement at 2½times the gross value: one has not, in fact, been given notice to quit: and another has been given by the landlord the chance of purchase at a sum less than ten times the present annual rent, which itself is equal to 1½ times the gross value.
§ 100. Mrs. L. Jegerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that, in spite of his warning, some landlords in central London, details of whom have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, are asking as new rents for property decontrolled under the Rent Act, 1957, six times the gross rateable value of the premises; and whether he will take steps to safeguard the interests of the tenants concerned.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe hon. Member sent me details of two cases, in one of which 4¼ and the other 5 times the gross value was asked. In both cases it seems that the circumstances were exceptional because of the high level of values in the area for business purposes. I have already warned any landlords who have been asking excessive rents that they may regret it, if they do not now reach agreement on reasonable terms.
§ Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is satisfied that tenants in unfurnished accommodation not separately assessed for rating purposes but in a house with a rateable value above the decontrol limits are sufficiently apprised of their position under the Rent Act, 1957; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. BrookeA brief explanation of the position is given in the answers to Questions 2 and 3 of the "Rent Act and You". I am, however, obliged to my 122W hon. Friend for enabling publicity to be given to a more detailed exposition.
Decontrol applies only to accommodation separately let unfurnished which has a rateable value of more than £40 in London, or £30 elsewhere in England and Wales. Where a family occupy only part of a house, it is the rateable value of that part and not the rateable value of the whole house which decides whether their accommodation is decontrolled. If the premises let have no separate assessment in the valuation list, the landlord cannot serve a notice to quit until he has shown either by written agreement with the tenant or by a decision of the county court, that the rateable value to be attributed to the premises is above the decontrol limit.
§ Mr. Ledgerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give consideration to the need for emergency action to house persons evicted under the provisions of the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have recently warned landlords that wherever possible they should make new agreements on reasonable terms with their tenants. I think the right course now is to allow time for this advice to have effect.