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Fair Rents

Volume 264: debated on Monday 16 October 1995

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to introduce (a) amending legislation, (b) revised guidance to rent officers and rent assessment committees or (c) any other action to reverse the effect of the Court of Appeal judgment on the use of comparables in setting fair rents in the case of Spath Holme Ltd. v. Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rent Assessment Committee. [37488]

The statutory basis on which fair rents are determined is set out in section 70 of the Rent Act 1977, which consolidated the Rent Act 1968. In essence, a fair rent is what a landlord could achieve in a market in which the supply of, and demand for, accommodation are in balance—that is, in the absence of scarcity. This has been the understanding since fair rents were introduced, and the judgment of the Court of Appeal does nothing to change that. We therefore do not propose to legislate to change the current statutory basis.The Secretary of State does not issue guidance to rent officers and rent assessment committees to seek to influence them in the exercise of their independent statutory jurisdiction, and it would be wrong to do so.

regarding the abolition of the Alderman's veto and extension of the franchise in the City of London; and if he will make a statement. [37112]

We have received one such representation. We have no plans to reform the arrangements for election to the common council.