RIGHTS OF LANDLORDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1032, 24 July 1930, Page 18

RIGHTS OF LANDLORDS

NEW RENT RESTRICTION BILL PROPOSALS POWER OF EJECTION THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Tries. Providing for an extension of the present Act and making special provision for the demolition of old buildings the Rent Restriction Amendment Bill was read a first time yesterday. It seeks to extend for another year the law at present expiring on July 31. The present legislation affects only those dwelling houses to which it has been expressly applied by an order made by the Magistrate’s Court on the application of the tenants. It does not apply to houses built since November, 1920, or those, being built before that date, have been let to tenants fer the first time since then. Even where the law is applicable the landlord will still be entitled to an annual net rent of 7 per cent, of the present capital value, after allowing for rates, depreciation and other outgoings. An important provision in the measure will enable the landlord to recover possession of the dwelling house if the premises are reasonably required for other than letting to another tenant. At present he is unable to eject a tenant if he desires to demolish the building for the pur pose of erecting a new and up-to-date structure. This anomaly has been a drawback, particularly in the rapidly expanding cities and in some instances unsightly and dilapidated houses remain, which would have been replaced by modern buildipgs if the owner were able to recover possession This enlargement of the rights of landlords is an alteration long overdue.