HC Deb 20 November 2001 vol 375 cc221-2W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 616W, on rent levels, what information he has collated on the impact of his proposals on the average level of rents in inner London boroughs. [16197]

Ms Keeble

Initial results from the case study we commissioned in West London suggest that between 2000–01 and 2011–12 the average level of weekly rent will rise in real terms from £61 to £72 for council tenants in LB Hammersmith and Fulham and from £62 to £81 for tenants of Notting Hill Housing Trust.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effect of rent restructuring on constituencies with high housing prices. [13570]

Ms Keeble

We have reviewed our approach to the introduction of the rent reforms on new developments. We have concluded that it could lead to some anomalies between the rents on new and existing stock. We have therefore decided that restructured rents on new developments should be phased in alongside restructuring on the remainder of a landlord's stock.

We recognise that there are potential problems associated with the small number of existing properties which would have very high rents under the reforms and are considering proposals for tackling them.