§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the judgment in the case of Avenue Properties (St. John's Wood) Limited v. Aisinzon, in the Court of Appeal, he will now introduce an amendment to Section 22 of the Rent Act 1968.
§ Mr. FreesonThere has not been opportunity to study a full report of this case, but the effect of the judgment would seem to be that a notice of increase served on a statutory regulated 39W tenant under Section 22(2)(b) of the Rent Act 1968 can be valid where it is served during a rental period and where the date from which it is to take effect is in the middle of that period. This clarifies an area of law on which there have been conflicting opinions. It is too early to say whether the judgment will give rise to problems which might require amendment of Section 22. Any difficulties will be considered as part of the review of the Rent Acts.