WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1980
2.
POSSESSION:
ANY LANDLORD MAY RECOVER POSSESSION OF A FLAT BY A COURT ORDER PROVIDING HE CAN PROVE THAT HE NEEDS THE PREMISES FOR HIS OWN
OR HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY'S OCCUPATION, AND HE CAN SHOW THAT GREATER HARDSHIP WOULD BE CAUSED BY REFUSING THE ORDER THAN BY GRANTING IT. HOWEVER, SEVERE PENALTIES ARE PROPOSED FOR LANDLORDS WHO OBTAIN SUCH A COURT ORDER BUT WITHIN TWO YEARS EITHER LET OR ASSIGN THE PREMISES.
BACK-DATING.
THE LEGISLATION WILL BE RETROSPECTIVE TO DECEMBER 18 LAST YEAR. ANY NOTICE OF TERMINATION THAT HAD NOT EXPIRED BY THAT DATE, OR ANY AGREEMENT AFFECTING A TENANT IN POSSESSION WHICH HAD NOT COMMENCED BY THAT DATE, WILL BE NULL IF IED.
CHANGE OF TENANCIES
WHERE A LANDLORD HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A NEW TENANT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE EXISTING TENANT WOULD BE VACATING ON EXPIRY OF THE LEASE OR THE NOTICE OF TERMINATION AFTER DECEMBER 18. SUCH AN AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE ENFORCEABLE IF THE EXISTING TENANT REMAINS IN OCCUPATION BECAUSE OF THE PROTECTION GIVEN TO HIM UNDER THE BILL.
MR SCOTT ALSO ANSWERED THE MAIN POINTS MADE BY LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS, AS FOLLOWS:
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+BEING DEPRIVED OF THE RIGHT TO RECOVER THE USE OF THE IR PROPERTY+ THIS INVOLVED SECURITY OF TENURE WHICH WAS THE +VERY CORE+ OF THE LEGISLATION. MR SCOTT SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSED RENT CONTROL WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE AND ONLY WHEN THE SITUATION VERY CLEARLY REQUIRED IT.
+RENT INCREASES BEING LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 21 PER CENT EVERY TWO YEARS+ —— MR SCOTT SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S MIND WAS OPEN ON THIS POINT, WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER WITH MANY RELATED MATTERS WHEN THE OVERALL REVIEW WAS MADE,
+BUSINESSMEN IN COMPANY-LEASED ACCOMMODATION BEING GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF RENT CONTROLS WHEN THE PRICES OF THE IR PRODUCTS ARE UNCONTROLLED THE MARKED UPSURGE IN RENTS FOR LARGE COMPANY FLATS AND HOUSES IN TURN ENCOURAGED SOME LANDLORDS TO PUSH UP RENTS OF MEDIUM NON-COMPANY FLATS, HE SAID. FURTHER, TO EXCLUDE COMPANY LEASES WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE LANDLORDS TO INSIST ON LEASING ONLY TO COMPANIES, TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS.
ON THE SUBJECT OF EXCESSIVE SPECULATION IN DOMESTIC PROPERTY, MR SCOTT SAID THIS +CONTINUES TO BE THE SUBJECT OF CLOSE STUDY BY GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGISLATION.+
HE ADDED: +1 CAN, HOWEVER, AT THIS STAGE SAY THAT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE IN MIND RESTRICTIONS ON THE FIRST PRE-COMPLETION SALE OF SUCH PROPERTY.+
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