§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will seek to amend the Rent Act 1974 so as to encourage the private sector to develop rented accommodation;
(2) if he will consider incentives to the private sector to rent accommodation by improving the system of fair rents to enable a reasonable return on capital to private landlords;
(3) if he will seek to amend the Housing Act 1974 to enable good landlords more easily to secure possession of their property when occupied by bad tenants.
§ Mr. FreesonA consultation paper inviting evidence and comments from organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to the current review of the Rent Acts was published by my Department on 31st January. The paper indicates that in carrying out the review the Government will be seeking to pro-62W mote the efficient use of housing, particularly to meet needs not otherwise catered for—for instance, lettings to the young, single and mobile—and to encourage the use of property which might be available for letting for limited periods only; to ensure that methods and criteria for the determination of rents are tailored to meet the difficulties faced by both landlords and tenants; to simplify the law on private renting and the administrative machinery; to make for a speedier and more effective resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants; and in general to provide a legislative framework which maintains a fair balance between the interests of tenants and landlords so that private rented accommodation can contribute effectively to meeting housing needs and choices and evolve into social forms of housing involving and acceptable to existing landlords and their tenants. No decisions on further legislation have been taken.