XN000022-1981-06-19 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1981

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IT WAS STRESSED THAT EXCLUSION IS BY REFERENCE TO RATEABLE VALUES AND NOT BY REFERENCE TO CURRENT RENTAL LEVELS FOR FLATS.

+HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF EXCLUSION OF PREMISES HAVING A RATEABLE VALUE OF $80 000 OR MORE, NOTICE OF TERMINATION CAN ONLY BE ISSUED BY LANDLORDS AFTER DECEMBER 18, 1981, + THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED, AND A MINIMUM NOTICE OF SIX MONTHS WILL BE REQUIRED. THUS MOST TENANTS OF SUCH PREMISES WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY SECURITY OF TENURE UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 1982.+

THE BILL ALSO DEALS WITH BLOCK TENANCIES OF TWO OR MORE DWELLINGS HAVING AN AGGREGATE RATEABLE VALUE OF $80 000 (FROM DECEMBER 1982, $60 000) OR MORE.

+IN SUCH CASES, THE EXCLUSION WILL APPLY BY REFERENCE TO THE RATEABLE VALUE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL DWELLING AND NOT TO THE TOTAL OF THE RATEABLE VALUES OF ALL THE DWELLINGS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

+THEREFORE, INDIVIDUAL DWELLINGS WITH RATEABLE VALUES BELOW THE SPECIFIED CUT-OFF POINTS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY PART I OF THE ORDINANCE WHETHER THEY ARE THE SUBJECT OF INDIVIDUAL TENANCIES OR FORM PART OF A TENANCY COMPRISING SEVERAL DWELLINGS. +

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE BIENNIAL PERCENTAGE CEILING ON RENT INCREASES TO BE RAISED FROM 21 PER CENT TO 30 PER CENT, BUT DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM INCREASE PERMITTED. IN CASES WHERE THE EXISTING RENT STANDS AT MORE THAN 62.5 PER CENT OF +MARKET RENT+, THE PERMITTED INCREASE WILL BE LOWER THAN 30 PER CENT.

APART FROM THE MAIN PROVISIONS, THREE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW AIMED AT PROVIDING BETTER PROTECTION TO EXISTING TENANTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

AT PRESENT, A COURT ORDER FOR POSSESSION HAS TO TAKE EFFECT WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE DATE OF SUCH ORDER. THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW RECOMMENDED THAT IN ORDER TO GIVE AFFECTED TENANTS MORE TIME TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, THE PERIOD BY WHICH A POSSESSION ORDER MAY BE DEFERRED SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SIX MONTHS. THIS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND THE NECESSARY PROVISION IS MADE IN THE BILL.

ANOTHER PROVISION IN THE BILL PROPOSES THAT WHERE PERSONS ACQUIRE TENANTED PREMISES UNDER CONTROL, NO ORDER OF POSSESSION CAN BE GRANTED TO TAKE EFFECT LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ACQUISITION.

+THIS NEW PROVISION IS NOT EXPECTED TO SERIOUSLY AFFECT GENUINE HOME-SEEKERS, COMMENTED THE SPOKESMAN, +BUT SITTING TENANTS WILL BE AFFORDED AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE OF SECURITY OF TENURE.+

+ IN ADDITION, THE EXISTING PROVISION WHEREBY FOR EXCLUDED PERMISES NO MINIMUM NOTICE TO QUIT IS REQUIRED IN

REDEVELOPMENT CASES, WILL BE REPEALED, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED. +HENCE A UNIFORM REQUIREMENT TO GIVE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS' NOTICE OF TERMINATION WILL APPLY, WHATEVER A LANDLORD'S REASONS FOR REQUIRING POSSESSION.+

THE BILL