§ Mr. David Jamesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in order to prevent landlords from leaving house property empty indefinitely with a view to enhancing the capital profit on an ultimate sale, if he will take steps to ensure that no residential property may remain derated for more than three months.
§ Mr. CorfieldNo. There are a variety of good reasons why residential property may be vacant for long periods, reconstruction, conversion and improvement among them, and my right hon. Friend would not wish to discourage work of that kind. In any case he doubts whether, where the reason is that mentioned by my hon. Friend, a liability for rates after three months would prevent any owner from waiting longer for what he considered to be a proper price.