§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report full details of measures taken by the Government since 1979 to encourage a supply of a greater availability of accommodation to rent in the private sector.
§ Sir George YoungWe took a range of measures in the Housing Act 1980:
- (i)the introduction of shorthold tenancies, under which landlords are able to let for a fixed term of between one and five years with a certainty of regaining possession if they so wish;
- (ii)the introduction of the assured tenancy scheme, which permits bodies approved by the Secretary of State to let property at freely negotiated rents outside the provisions of the Rent Acts;
- (iii)changes to the rules for lettings by absent owner-occupiers and resident landlords, including the provision of quicker and easier possession procedures;
- (iv)a reduction in the period before which a fair rent can normally be reviewed from three years to two, with a corresponding change to the phasing period, thus helping to improve the value of fair rents;
- (v)simplified procedures for the registration of fair rents;
- (vi)the abolition of controlled tenancies;
- (vii)strengthening of the provisions covering the payments of rent arrears when possession is granted by the court.