TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1979
RENT CONTROL TO BE EXTENDED
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LEGISLATION IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR WHICH WOULD BRING UNDER RENT CONTROL ALL EXISTING DOMESTIC RENTED ACCOMMODATION.
IF APPROVED, THE LEGISLATION WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM TODAY, DECEMBER 18.
ANNOUNCING THIS A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT ALL EXISTING UNCONTROLLED TENANCIES WOULD BE BROUGHT UNDER RENT CONTROL.
THIS WILL LIMIT INCREASES TO 21 PER CENT EVERY TWO YEARS AND WILL PROVIDE SECURITY OF TENURE FOR TENANTS.
THE LEGISLATION WILL PROPOSE IN RESPECT OF NEW AND FRESH LETTINGS THAT THERE WILL BE NO RESTRICTION ON THE AMOUNT OF RENTS THAT MAY BE AGREED BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
BUT SUBSEQUENTLY THE PERMITTED INCREASES IN RENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LEGISLATION.
THE FOLLOWING TENANCIES WHICH ARE PRESENTLY EXCLUDED WILL
BE BROUGHT UNDER RENT CONTROL
(A) LEASES OF THREE YEARS DURATION OR MORE-
(B) GOVERNMENT OR COMPANY LEASES.
IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT TENANCIES WITH RATEABLE VALUE OF $30 000 AT 1973 VALUATION WHICH ARE NOT AT PRESENT LIMITED TO THE 21 PER CENT PERMITTED INCREASE EVERY TWO YEARS, WILL BE SUBJECT TO SUCH LIMITATION UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION.
DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME OF ENACTMENT OF THE NEW LEGISLATION LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WHICH MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSALS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD WEIGHED CAREFULLY ́ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INTRODUCING RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION AT THIS STAGE.
+THE STRONG PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE ANXIETY OF PEOPLE AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS WERE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
*THE CONTINUING STRONG DEMAND FOR DOMESTIC PROPERTY SHOULD, IT IS CONSIDERED, CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS IN THEIR HIGH RATE OF PRODUCTION.
+GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE BASIC AND DURABLE LONG TERM ANSWER IS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
COMMENTING ON PROPOSALS AIMED AT CURBING SPECULATION ON DOMESTIC PROPERTIES THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SEVERAL MEASURES ARE PRESENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION BUT NO DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN AT THIS STAGE.
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