FAIR RENTS ACT

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 14

FAIR RENTS ACT

OPERATION EXTENDED TWELVE MONTHS [Pib United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 26. The operation of the Fair Rents Act is extended by another year to September 30, 1940, by the Fair Rents Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message in the House of Representatives to-night. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Shops and flats are brought within the scop© of the legislation. It will not apply, however, to flats let for the first time after the passing of the Bill, flats which have not’ been let since June 1, flats let at an annual rental of more than £156, or flats which have been Jet at more than that rental since June 1 last. The rent at which shops or flats were let on June 1, or the nearest date before or after that date, is to be the basic rent, and any increase made since August 1 is mad© ineffective, despite anything to the contrary in any agreement. This does not apply to premises for which a fair rent has been fixed in accordance with the principal Act. The principal Act is amended to include in the grounds for recovery of possession a condition that premises are reasonably required by the landlord for demolition or reconstruction. The Bill also gives power to make regulations controlling chargee for residential accommodation;