Rent Acts (Hansard, 4 June 1980)

§ Mr. Stanley

The following measures are included in the BillShorthold will enable landlords to let new tenancies of between one and five years with the certainty of being able to regain possession at the end of the fixed term if they want to. Tenants will have full security during the shorthold term, and shorthold will not apply to existing tenants. For new lettings by resident landlords, we are making it quicker and simpler for the landlord to regain possession of the part of his house he has let. Our experimental scheme for assured tenancies will enable landlords approved by the Secretary of State to build for rent outside Rent Act controls. We are retaining the basis on which fair [...] are assessed unchanged, but we are reducing the period before which a registered rent can normally be reviewed from three years to two, and making corresponding changes to the phasing provisions. We are converting the remaining controlled tenancies, with rents based on 1956 rateable values, into regulated tenancies. We are simplifying the procedures for the registration of fair rents but without reducing the independence of the rent officer service. We are strengthening the provisions in the Rent Acts regarding the payment of rent arrears. We are reducing the time it will take landlords to regain possession when they have a mandatory right to possession. We are extending the circumstances in which temporarily-absent owner-occupiers and the owners of retirement homes and their successors in the event of their death can recover possession from their tenants, but without removing from tenants any security they would have expected at the start of the tenancy.