Rents (Hansard, 3 May 1974)

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if lie is aware of the uncertainty which has arisen over the application of the freeze on rents to houses owned by the Western Heritable Company in Glasgow where rent agreements apply to the majority of tenancies; and if he will make a new order to clarify the position in such cases.

§ Mr. William Ross
I understand that the company has decided, despite the Counter-Inflation (Residential Rents—Private Sector) (Scotland) Order 1974, to attempt to recover the first instalment of rent increase under rent agreements which it concluded with tenants before the introduction of the standstill. The intention of the order is clear and its terms reflect provisions in earlier rent legislation. It is for the courts to determine any question as to the application.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that rent allowances will be paid to tenants on the basis of the rents actually charged by landlords in cases where doubt has arisen about whether the rent freeze applies, and to make further provision for allowances to be repaid to the local authority if rents are subsequently reduced.
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§ Mr. William Ross
The provisions of the rent allowance scheme contained in the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 are already sufficiently flexible to permit local authorities to make arrangements such as those suggested by the hon. Member.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the freeze on rents applies in cases where rent agreements were made before 8th March providing for increased rents to be charged after 8th March; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. William Ross
The intention of the Counter-Inflation (Residential Rents—Private Sector) (Scotland) Order 1974 was to impose a standstill on private rents from 8th March to 31st December 1974 and to prohibit any increase, other than an increase to take account of any increase in rates or of the cost of any improvement, in the rent under any tenancy of a dwelling-house to which the order applies in respect of that period. It is for the courts to determine any question as to the application of the order.