HL Deb 27 July 1988 vol 500 cc373-4WA
The Earl of Swinton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now to bring the remaining sections of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 into force.

The Earl of Caithness

We have now made the third commencement order for the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, covering all the sections not already covered by earlier orders. The provisions in Sections 41, 43 and 44 dealing respectively with the strengthening of tenants' rights on variable service charges, insurance and consultation on the appointment of managing agents will come into force on 1st September 1988. There are transitional provisions for Section 41 to deal with situations where action is already in hand or where the accounting period has already started before 1st September 1988. Section 42, dealing with the handling of service charge contributions will come into force on 1st April 1989, together with an order under Section 42(5) dealing with the investment of service charge funds held in trust.

Under a separate order the prescribed amounts above which a landlord must consult his tenants about works will be raised on 1st September 1988 to £1,000 or £50 per dwelling, whichever is the greater.

This completes the implementation of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, which has significantly strengthened the rights of people living in flats and, as regards the payment of variable service charges and insurance, people living in houses and other dwellings also.