§ 3. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that finance corporations dealing in property leases in large centres of population, such as South Wales, are demanding premiums in addition to increased ground rents as a condition of a renewal of the lease; and if he will introduce legislation to check this practice;
(2) whether he is aware of the hardship caused in large centres of population, such as South Wales, by the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954; and whether he will introduce legislation to protect leaseholders from exorbitant demands by finance corporations who are ground landlords.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have no information about the practice referred to in the hon. Member's Questions and I have no reason to suppose that hardship is being caused by the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954. The Act affords protection to the tenant of premises to which it applies by providing that the terms of the tenancy should be settled by the county court if the terms offered by the landlord are unacceptable. I do not, therefore, propose to introduce legislation on this subject.