6.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1980,
RENTS ON FIRST LETTINGS OF NEWLY-BUILT PREMISES, AND FRESH LETTINGS OF EXISTING PREMISES, MAY BE FREELY DETERMINED BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT. SUBSEQUENT RENT INCREASES WILL BE EITHER FREELY AGREED BY THE LANDLORD AND HIS TENANT OR DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE FORMULA LAID DOWN IN THE LEGISLATION, SUBJECT TO A CEILING OF 21 PER CENT EVERY TWO YEARS.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO EXPLAINED THAT RISING RENT AGREEMENTS IN BEING AS AT DECEMBER 18, 1979, WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON INCREASES OF RENT, BUT THE SECURITY OF TENURE PROVIDED FOR THE TENANT WILL BE THE SAME AS FOR THE PROTECTED TENANTS, NAMELY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS AFTER THE LAST INCREASE STIPULATED IN THE AGREEMENT.
AT PRESENT, A LANDLORD WHO HAS ACQUIRED PREMISES SUBJECT TO A CONTROLLED TENANCY S CE DECEMBER 14, 1973 IS DEBARRED FROM SEEKING AN ORDER FROM THE COURT ON THE GROUNDS THAT HE REQUIRES THE PREMISES FOR HIS OWN OR FAMILY USE. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSALS WOULD ALLOW ANY LANDLORD, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHEN HE BECAME A LANDLORD OR WHETHER HE ACQUIRED THE PREMISES TENANTED OR WITH VACANT POSSESSION, TO RECOVER POSSESSION BY PROVING THAT HE REQUIRES THE PREMISES FOR HIS OWN OR HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY'S OCCUPATION, PROVIDED THAT HE CAN SHOW THAT GREATER HARDSHIP COULD BE CAUSED BY REFUSING THE ORDER THAN BY GRANTING IT.
+THIS PROPOSAL IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ALLOW LANDLORDS WHO MAY HAVE PURCHASED PROPERTY WITH A VIEW TO OBTAINING POSSESSION AT A FUTURE DATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, SAID THE SPOKESMAN,
THE BILL PROPOSES PENALTIES FOR LANDLORDS WHO OBTAIN AN ORDER OF POSSESSION FROM THE COURT FOR EITHER THEIR OWN OR FAMILY USE OR FOR REBUILDING, AND WHO SUBSEQUENTLY LET OR ASSIGN THE PREMISES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COURT WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORDER.
A NEW PROVISION IN THE BILL PERMITS THE LANDLORD TO SEEK AN ORDER FOR POSSESSION WHERE HE CAN SHOW THAT THE PREMISES HAVE BEEN USED FOR AN IMMORAL OR ILLEGAL PURPOSE.
CERTAIN TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO COVER THE LEGISLATION RETROSPECTIVELY TO DECEMBER 18, 1979 ARE PROVIDED.
+THE INTENTION IS TO NULLIFY ANY NOTICE OF TERMINATION WHICH HAD NOT EXPIRED, OR ANY AGREEMENT AFFECTING A TENANT IN POSSESSION, WHICH HAS NOT COMMENCED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 18, 1979,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
+WHERE A LANDLORD HAS ENTERED INTO AGREEMENT WITH A NEW TENANT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE EXISTING TENANT WILL BE VACATING ON EXPIRY OF A NOTICE OF TERMINATION AFTER DECEMBER 18, 1979, SUCH AN AGREEMENT CANNOT BE ENFORCED AND THE EXISTING TENANT CAN REMAIN IN OCCUPATION BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTION PROPOSED UNDER THIS BILL.+
THE BILL PROPOSES TO BRING FORWARD THE EXPIRY DATE OF THE PART I CONTROLS FROM DECEMBER 14, 1982 TO DECEMBER 18, 1981. THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LEGISLATION WHICH HAS OVER THE YEARS BECOME EXTENSIVE AND VERY COMPLICATED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAD QUERIES ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CASES, THEY SHOULD SEEK APPOINTMENTS WITH RENT OFFICERS OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT BY FIRST CONTACTING THE IR LOCAL CITY DISTRICT OFFICE.