XN000022-1988-10-07 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1988

UPDATING OF LANDLORD AND TENANT LAW PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO REFINE AND UPDATE THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE LANDLORD AND TENANT [CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) AND DUE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER, 20.

THE MAIN PROPOSAL IS THE RAISING OF THE PERMITTED RENT OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES FROM 35 TO 39 TIMES THE STANDARD RENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT RENTS OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES ARE CONTROLLED BY REFERENCE TO THOSE PAYABLE AS AT DECEMBER 25, 1941 TERMED THE "STANDARD RENT",

WHEN MULTIPLIED BY A FACTOR, THIS GIVES THE PERMITTED RENT, PROVIDED THAT IT DOES NOT EXCEED THE PREVAILING MARKET RENT.

THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE FACTOR FROM LAST YEAR'S 35 TO 39 IS IN LINE WITH THE ESTABLISHED POLICY OF GRADUALLY BRINGING PERMITTED RENTS CLOSER TO PREVAILING MARKET LEVELS.

"THE RAISING OF THE FACTOR WOULD

DOMESTIC UNITS EFFECTIVELY UNDER CONTROL.

AFFECT SOME 1,700 PRE-WAR

"THIS WOULD RESULT IN AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 17 PER CENT OR $229 PER MONTH, ON CURRENT PERMITTED RENTS, BRINGING SUCH RENTS TO ABOUT 76 PER CENT OF THE PREVAILING MARKET LEVEL, THE SAID.

SPOKESMAN

THESE PROPOSALS COULD TAKE EFFECT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IF THE

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES SOME TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO FACILITATE THE ADMINSTRATION OF PART II OF THE ORDINANCE.

THESE INCLUDE CLARIFICATION OF THE BASIS OF RATEABLE VALUES CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE, HIS POWER TO DETERMINE THE DATE OF INCREASE IN REVIEWING A CERTIFICATE OF INCREASE IN RENT AND THE TIME LIMIT FOR APPEAL то THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH ΤΟ OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THESE PROPOSALS CAN MAKE ENQUIRIES TO THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

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