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Act of Parliament

Rent Act 1977

Citation
1977 c. 42
As at
Sections
332
Section 1Protected tenants and tenancies.

Subject to this Part of this Act, a tenancy under which a dwelling-house (which may be a house or part of a house) is let as a separate dwelling is a protected tenancy for the purposes of this Act.

Any reference in this Act to a protected tenant shall be construed accordingly.

Section 2Statutory tenants and tenancies.

(1) Subject to this Part of this Act—

(a) after the termination of a protected tenancy of a dwelling-house the person who, immediately before that termination, was the protected tenant of the dwelling-house shall, if and so long as he occupies the dwelling-house as his residence, be the statutory tenant of it: and

(b) Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for determining what person (if any)—

(i) is the statutory tenant of the dwelling-house, or (as the case may be),

(ii) in the case of a dwelling-house in England, is entitled to an assured tenancy of a dwelling-house by succession, or

(iii) in the case of a dwelling-house in Wales, is entitled to a secure contract of a dwelling-house by succession,

at any time after the death of a person who, immediately before that person’s death, was either a protected tenant of the dwelling-house or a statutory tenant of it by virtue of paragraph (a) above.

(2) In this Act a dwelling-house is referred to as subject to a statutory tenancy when there is a statutory tenant of it.

(3) In subsection (1)(a) above and in Part I of Schedule 1, the phrase “ if and so long as he occupies the dwelling-house as his residence ” shall be construed as it was immediately before the commencement of this Act (that is to say, in accordance with section 3(2) of the Rent Act 1968).

(4) A person who becomes a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above is, in this Act, referred to as a statutory tenant by virtue of his previous protected tenancy.

(5) A person who becomes a statutory tenant as mentioned in subsection 1(b) above is, in this Act, referred to as a statutory tenant by succession.

Section 3Terms and conditions of statutory tenancies.

(1) So long as he retains possession, a statutory tenant shall observe and be entitled to the benefit of all the terms and conditions of the original contract of tenancy, so far as they are consistent with the provisions of this Act.

(2) It shall be a condition of a statutory tenancy of a dwelling-house that the statutory tenant shall afford to the landlord access to the dwelling-house and all reasonable facilities for executing therein any repairs which the landlord is entitled to execute.

(3) Subject to section 5 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 (under which at least 4 weeks’ notice to quit is required), a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house shall be entitled to give up possession of the dwelling-house if, and only if, he gives such notice as would have been required under the provisions of the original contract of tenancy, or, if no notice would have been so required, on giving not less than 3 months’ notice.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in the contract of tenancy, a landlord who obtains an order for possession of a dwelling-house as against a statutory tenant shall not be required to give to the statutory tenant any notice to quit.

(5) Part II of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the giving up of possession of statutory tenancies and the changing of statutory tenants by agreement.

Section 4Dwelling-houses above certain rateable values.

(1) A tenancy which is entered into before 1st April 1990 or (where the dwelling-house had a rateable value on 31st March 1990) is entered into on or after 1st April 1990 in pursuance of a contract made before that date is not a protected tenancy if the dwelling-house falls within one of the Classes set out in subsection (2) below.

(2) Where alternative rateable values are mentioned in this subsection, the higher applies if the dwelling-house is in Greater London and the lower applies if it is elsewhere.

Class A

The appropriate day in relation to the dwelling-house falls or fell on or after 1st April 1973 and the dwelling-house on the appropriate day has or had a rateable value exceeding £1,500 or £750.

Class B

The appropriate day in relation to the dwelling-house fell on or after 22nd March 1973, but before 1st April 1973, and the dwelling-house—

on the appropriate day had a rateable value exceeding £600 or £300, and

on 1st April 1973 had a rateable value exceeding £1,500 or £750.

Class C

The appropriate day in relation to the dwelling-house fell before 22nd March 1973 and the dwelling-house—

on the appropriate day had a rateable value exceeding £400 or £200, and

on 22nd March 1973 had a rateable value exceeding £600 or £300, and

on 1st April 1973 had a rateable value exceeding £1,500 or £750.

(3) If any question arises in any proceedings whether a dwelling-house falls within a Class in subsection (2) above, by virtue of its rateable value at any time, it shall be deemed not to fall within that Class unless the contrary is shown.

(4) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if—

(a) it is entered into on or after 1st April 1990 (otherwise than, where the dwelling-house had a rateable value on 31st March 1990, in pursuance of a contract made before 1st April 1990), and

(b) under it the rent payable for the time being is payable at a rate exceeding £25,000 a year.

(5) In subsection (4) above “rent” does not include any sum payable by the tenant as is expressed (in whatever terms) to be payable in respect of rates, council tax, services, repairs, maintenance or insurance, unless it could not have been regarded by the parties as a sum so payable.

(6) If any question arises in any proceedings whether a tenancy is precluded from being a protected tenancy by subsection (4) above, the tenancy shall be deemed to be a protected tenancy unless the contrary is shown.

(7) The Secretary of State may by order replace the amount referred to in subsection (4) above by an amount specified in the order; and such an order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 5Tenancies at low rents.

(1) A tenancy which was entered into before 1st April 1990 or (where the dwelling-house under the tenancy had a rateable value on 31st March 1990) is entered into on or after 1st April 1990 in pursuance of a contract made before that date is not a protected tenancy if under the tenancy either no rent is payable or, . . . the rent payable is less then two-thirds of the rateable value which is or was the rateable value of the dwelling-house on the appropriate day.

(2) Where—

(a) the appropriate day in relation to a dwelling-house fell before 22nd March 1973, and

(b) the dwelling-house had on the appropriate day a rateable value exceeding, if it is in Greater London, £400 or, if it is elsewhere, £200,

subsection (1) above shall apply in relation to the dwelling-house as if the reference to the appropriate day were a reference to 22nd March 1973.

(2A) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if—

(a) it is entered into on or after the 1st April 1990 (otherwise than, where the dwelling-house under the tenancy had a rateable value on 31st March 1990, in pursuance of a contract made before 1st April 1990), and

(b) under the tenancy for the time being either no rent is payable or the rent is payable at a rate of, if the dwelling-house is in Greater London, £1,000 or less a year, and, if the dwelling-house is elsewhere, £250 or less a year.

(2B) Subsection (7) of section 4 above shall apply to any amount referred to in subsection (2A) above as it applies to the amount referred to in subsection (4) of that section.

(3) In this Act a tenancy falling within subsection (1) above is referred to as a “tenancy at a low rent”.

(4) In determining whether a long tenancy is a tenancy at a low rent, there shall be disregarded such part (if any) of the sums payable by the tenant as is expressed (in whatever terms) to be payable in respect of rates, council tax, services, repairs, maintenance, or insurance, unless it could not have been regarded by the parties as a part so payable.

(5) In subsection (4) above “ long tenancy ” means a tenancy granted for a term certain exceeding 21 years, other than a tenancy which is, or may become, terminable before the end of that term by notice given to the tenant.

Section 5ACertain shared ownership leases.

(1) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if it is a qualifying shared ownership lease, that is—

(a) a lease granted in pursuance of the right to be granted a shared ownership lease under Part V of the Housing Act 1985, or

(b) a lease granted by a housing association and which complies with the conditions set out in subsection (2) below.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) above are that the lease—

(a) was granted for a term of 99 years or more and is not (and cannot become) terminable except in pursuance of a provision for re-entry or forfeiture;

(b) was granted at a premium, calculated by reference to the value of the dwelling-house or the cost of providing it, of not less than 25 per cent, or such other percentage as may be prescribed, of the figure by reference to which it was calculated;

(c) provides for the tenant to acquire additional shares in the dwellinghouse on terms specified in the lease and complying with such requirements as may be prescribed;

(d) does not restrict the tenant’s powers to assign, mortgage or charge his interest in the dwellinghouse;

(e) if it enables the landlord to require payment for outstanding shares in the dwellinghouse, does so only in such circumstances as may be prescribed;

(f) provides, in the case of a house, for the tenant to acquire the landlord’s interest on terms specified in the lease and complying with such requirements as may be prescribed; and

(g) states the landlord’s opinion that by virtue of this section the lease is excluded from the operation of this Act.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe anything requiring to be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (2) above.

(4) The regulations may—

(a) make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case, including different provision for different areas, and

(b) contain such incidental, supplementary or transitional provisions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate,

and shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) In any proceedings the court may, if of opinion that it is just and equitable to do so, treat a lease as a qualifying shared ownership lease notwithstanding that the condition specified in subsection (2)(g) above is not satisfied.

(6) In this section—

“ house ” has the same meaning as in Part I of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967;

“ housing association ” has the same meaning as in the Housing Associations Act 1985; and

“ lease ” includes an agreement for a lease, and references to the grant of a lease shall be construed accordingly.

Section 6Dwelling-houses let with other land.

Subject to section 26 of this Act, a tenancy is not a protected tenancy if the dwelling-house which is subject to the tenancy is let together with land other than the site of the dwelling-house.

Section 7Payments for board or attendance.

(1) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if under the tenancy the dwelling-house is bona fide let at a rent which includes payments in respect of board or attendance.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a dwelling-house shall not be taken to be bona fide let at a rent which includes payments in respect of attendance unless the amount of rent which is fairly attributable to attendance, having regard to the value of the attendance to the tenant, forms a substantial part of the whole rent.

Section 8Lettings to students.

(1) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if it is granted to a person who is pursuing, or intends to pursue, a course of study provided by a specified educational institution and is so granted either by that institution or by another specified institution or body of persons.

(2) In subsection (1) above “ specified ” means specified, or of a class specified, for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument.

(3) A statutory instrument containing any such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 9Holiday lettings.

A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if the purpose of the tenancy is to confer on the tenant the right to occupy the dwelling-house for a holiday.

Section 10Agricultural holdings etc.

(1) A tenancy is not a protected tenancy if—

(a) the dwelling-house is comprised in an agricultural holding and is occupied by the person responsible for the control (whether as tenant or as servant or agent of the tenant) of the farming of the holding, or

(b) the dwelling-house is comprised in the holding held under a farm business tenancy and is occupied by the person responsible for the control (whether as tenant or as servant or agent of the tenant) of the management of the holding.

(2) In subsection (1) above—

“ agricultural holding ” means any agricultural holding within the meaning of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 held under a tenancy in relation to which that Act applies, and

“ farm business tenancy ”, and “ holding ” in relation to such a tenancy, have the same meaning as in the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995.

Section 11Licensed premises.

A tenancy of a dwelling-house which consists of or comprises premises which, by virtue of a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003, may be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act) for consumption on the premises shall not be a protected tenancy, nor shall such a dwelling-house be the subject of a statutory tenancy.

Section 12Resident landlords.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a tenancy of a dwelling-house granted on or after 14th August 1974 shall not be a protected tenancy at any time if—

(a) the dwelling-house forms part only of a building and, except in a case where the dwelling-house also forms part of a flat, the building is not a purpose-built block of flats, and

(b) the tenancy was granted by a person who, at the time when he granted it, occupied as his residence another dwelling-house which—

(i) in the case mentioned in paragraph (a) above, also forms part of the flat; or

(ii) in any other case, also forms part of the building; and

(c) subject to paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to this Act, at all times since the tenancy was granted the interest of the landlord under the tenancy has belonged to a person who, at the time he owned that interest, occupied as his residence another dwelling-house which—

(i) in the case mentioned in paragraph (a) above, also formed part of the flat; or

(ii) in any other case, also formed part of the building.

(2) This section does not apply to a tenancy of a dwelling-house which forms part of a building if the tenancy is granted to a person who, immediately before it was granted, was a protected or statutory tenant of that dwelling-house or of any other dwelling-house in that building.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above, a tenancy shall be treated as being for a term of years certain notwithstanding that it is liable to determination by re-entry or on the happening of any event other than the giving of notice by the landlord to determine the term.

(4) Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of supplementing this section.

Section 13Landlord’s interest belonging to Crown.

(1) Except as provided by subsection (2) below—

(a) A tenancy shall not be a protected tenancy at any time when the interest of the landlord under that tenancy belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or to a government department or is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department; and

(b) a person shall not at any time be a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house if the interest of his immediate landlord would at that time belong or be held as mentioned in paragraph (a) above.

(2) An interest belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown shall not prevent a tenancy from being a protected tenancy or a person from being a statutory tenant if the interest is under the management of the Crown Estate Commissioners.

Section 14Landlord’s interest belonging to local authority, etc.

(1) At the beginning A tenancy shall not be a protected tenancy at any time when the interest of the landlord under that tenancy belongs to—

(a) the council of a county or county borough ;

(b) the council of a district or, in the application of this Act to the Isles of Scilly, the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(bb) the Broads Authority;

(bc) a National Park authority;

(c) ... the council of a London borough or the Common Council of the City of London;

(caa) a police and crime commissioner;

(caaa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ca) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(cb) a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985;

(cba) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(cbb) an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

(cbc) a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act;

(cbd) a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023;

(cc) the London Fire Commissioner;

(cd) a fire and rescue authority created by an order under section 4A of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004;

(d) the English new towns residuary body ;

(e) a development corporation established by an order made, or having effect as if made, under the New Towns Act 1981 ; or

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g) an urban development corporation within the meaning of Part XVI of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980; nor shall a person at any time be a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house if the interest of his immediate landlord would belong at that time to any of those bodies

(ga) a Mayoral development corporation;

(h) a housing action trust established under Part III of the Housing Act 1988 .

(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) In subsection (1)(d) “ English new towns residuary body ” means the Homes and Communities Agency so far as exercising functions in relation to anything transferred (or to be transferred) to it as mentioned in section 52(1)(a) to (d) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 or the Greater London Authority so far as exercising its new towns and urban development functions .

Section 15Landlord’s interest belonging to housing association, etc.

(1) A tenancy . . . shall not be a protected tenancy at any time when the interest of the landlord under that tenancy belongs to a housing association falling within subsection (3) below; nor shall a person at any time be a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house if the interest of his immediate landlord would belong at that time to such a housing association.

(2) A tenancy shall not be a protected tenancy at any time when the interest of the landlord under that tenancy belongs to—

(a) the Regulator of Social Housing

. . .; or

(b) a housing trust which is a charity ...;

nor shall a person at any time be a statutory tenant of a dwelling-house if the interest of his immediate landlord would belong at that time to any of those bodies.

(3) A housing association falls within this subsection if—

(za) it is a private registered provider of social housing,

(a) it is a registered social landlord within the meaning of the Housing Act 1985 (see section 5(4) and (5) of that Act) , or

(b) it is a co-operative housing association within the meaning of the Housing Associations Act 1985 .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) In subsection (2) above “ housing trust ” means a corporation or body of persons which—

(a) is required by the terms of its constituent instrument to use the whole of its funds, including any surplus which may arise from its operations, for the purpose of providing housing accommodation; or

(b) is required by the terms of its constituent instrument to devote the whole, or substantially the whole, of its funds to charitable purposes and in fact uses the whole, or substantially the whole, of its funds for the purpose of providing housing accommodation.

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 16Landlord’s interest belonging to housing co-operative.

A tenancy shall not be a protected tenancy at any time when the interest of the landlord under that tenancy belongs to a housing co-operative, within the meaning of section 27B of the Housing Act 1985 (agreements with housing co-operatives under certain superseded provisions) and the dwelling-house is comprised in a housing co-operative agreement within the meaning of that section .

Section 17Controlled tenancies.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 18Regulated tenancies.

(1) Subject to sections 24(3) and 143 of this Act, a “ regulated tenancy ” is, for the purposes of this Act, a protected or statutory tenancy . . .

(2) Where a regulated tenancy is followed by a statutory tenancy of the same dwelling-house, the two shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as together constituting one regulated tenancy.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 18AModification of Act for controlled tenancies converted into regulated tenancies.

Schedule 17 to this Act applies for the purpose of modifying the provisions of this Act in relation to a tenancy Which, by virtue of any of the following enactments, was converted from a controlled tenancy into a regulated tenancy, that is to say—

section 18(3) of this Act;

paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Rent Act 1968 (which was superseded by section 18(3));

Part VIII of this Act;

Part 111 of the Housing Finance Act 1972 (which was superseded by Part VIII);

Part IV of the Act of 1972 (conversion by reference to rateable values);

section 64 of the Housing Act 1980 (conversion of remaining controlled tenancies into regulated tenancies).

Section 22Tenant sharing accommodation with persons other than landlord.

(1) Where a tenant has the exclusive occupation of any accommodation (“the separate accommodation”) and—

(a) the terms as between the tenant and his landlord on which he holds the separate accommodation include the use of other accommodation (“the shared accommodation”) in common with another person or other persons, not being or including the landlord, and

(b) by reason only of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) above, the separate accommodation would not, apart from this section, be a dwelling-house let on or subject to a protected or statutory tenancy,

the separate accommodation shall be deemed to be a dwelling-house let on a protected tenancy or, as the case may be, subject to a statutory tenancy and the following provisions of this section shall have effect.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that where, for the purpose of determining the rateable value of the separate accommodation, it is necessary to make an apportionment under this Act, regard is to be had to the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above.

(3) While the tenant is in possession of the separate accommodation (whether as a protected or statutory tenant), any term or condition of the contract of tenancy terminating or modifying, or providing for the termination or modification of, his right to the use of any of the shared accommodation which is living accommodation shall be of no effect.

(4) Where the terms and conditions of the contract of tenancy are such that at any time during the tenancy the persons in common with whom the tenant is entitled to the use of the shared accommodation could be varied, or their number could be increased, nothing in subsection (3) above shall prevent those terms and conditions from having effect so far as they relate to any such variation or increase.

(5) Without prejudice to the enforcement of any order made under subsection (6) below, while the tenant is in possession of the separate accommodation, no order shall be made for possession of any of the shared accommodation, whether on the application of the immediate landlord of the tenant or on the application of any person under whom that landlord derives title, unless a like order has been made, or is made at the same time, in respect of the separate accommodation; and the provisions of section 98(1) of this Act shall apply accordingly.

(6) On the application of the landlord, the county court may make such order either—

(a) terminating the right of the tenant to use the whole or any part of the shared accommodation other than living accommodation, or

(b) modifying his right to use the whole or any part of the shared accommodation, whether by varying the persons or increasing the number of persons entitled to the use of that accommodation, or otherwise,

as the court thinks just.

(7) No order shall be made under subsection (6) above so as to effect any termination or modification of the rights of the tenant which, apart from subsection (3) above, could not be effected by or under the terms of the contract of tenancy.

(8) In this section “ living accommodation ” means accommodation of such a nature that the fact that it constitutes or is included in the shared accommodation is (or, if the tenancy has ended, was) sufficient, apart from this section, to prevent the tenancy from constituting a protected tenancy of a dwelling-house.

Section 23Certain sublettings not to exclude any part of sub-lessor’s premises from protection.

(1) Where the tenant of any premises, consisting of a house or part of a house, has sublet a part but not the whole of the premises, then, as against his landlord or any superior landlord, no part of the premises shall be treated as not being a dwelling-house let on or subject to a protected or statutory tenancy by reason only that—

(a) the terms on which any person claiming under the tenant holds any part of the premises include the use of accommodation in common with other persons; or

(b) part of the premises is let to any such person at a rent which includes payments in respect of board or attendance.

(2) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights against, and liabilities to, each other of the tenant and any person claiming under him, or of any 2 such persons.

Section 24Premises with a business use.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) A tenancy shall not be a regulated tenancy if it is a tenancy to which Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 applies (but this provision is without prejudice to the application of any other provision of this Act to a sub-tenancy of any part of the premises comprised in such a tenancy).

Section 25Rateable value and meaning of “appropriate day”.

(1) Except where this Act otherwise provides, the rateable value on any day of a dwelling-house shall be ascertained for the purposes of this Act as follows:—

(a) if the dwelling-house is a hereditament for which a rateable value is then shown in the valuation list, it shall be that rateable value;

(b) if the dwelling-house forms part only of such a hereditament or consists of or forms part of more than one such hereditament, its rateable value shall be taken to be such value as is found by a proper apportionment or aggregation of the rateable value or values so shown.

(2) Any question arising under this section as to the proper apportionment or aggregation of any value or values shall be determined by the county court, and the decision of the county court shall be final.

(3) In this Act “ the appropriate day ”—

(a) in relation to any dwelling-house which, on 23rd March 1965, was or formed part of a hereditament for which a rateable value was shown in the valuation list then in force, or consisted or formed part of more than one such hereditament, means that date, and

(b) in relation to any other dwelling-house, means the date on which such a value is or was first shown in the valuation list.

(4) Where, after the date which is the appropriate day in relation to any dwelling-house, the valuation list is altered so as to vary the rateable value of the hereditament of which the dwelling-house consists or forms part and the alteration has effect from a date not later than the appropriate day, the rateable value of the dwelling-house on the appropriate day shall be ascertained as if the value shown in the valuation list on the appropriate day had been the value shown in the list as altered.

(5) This section applies in relation to any other land as it applies in relation to a dwelling-house.

Section 26Land and premises let with dwelling-house.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, any land or premises let together with a dwelling-house shall, unless it consists of agricultural land exceeding 2 acres in extent, be treated as part of the dwelling-house.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above “ agricultural land ” has the meaning set out in section 26(3)(a) of the General Rate Act 1967 (exclusion of agricultural land and premises from liability for rating).

Section 44Limit of rent during contractual periods.

(1) Where a rent for a dwelling-house is registered under Part IV of this Act, the rent recoverable for any contractual period of a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house shall be limited to the rent so registered.

This subsection is subject to the following provisions of this Act: subsection (4) below, section 71(3) , paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 7, . . . and paragraph 3 of Schedule 20.

(2) Where a limit is imposed by subsection (1) above on the rent recoverable in relation to any contractual period of a regulated tenancy, the amount by which the rent payable under the tenancy exceeds that limit shall, notwithstanding anything in any agreement, be irrecoverable from the tenant.

(3) In this Part of this Act “ contractual rent limit ” means the limit specified in subsection (1) above.

(4) Schedule 7 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of providing a special rent limit in relation to certain tenancies which became regulated tenancies by virtue of section 14 of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.

Section 45Limit of rent during statutory periods.

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Part of this Act, where the rent payable for any statutory period of a regulated tenancy of a dwelling-house would exceed the rent recoverable for the last contractual period thereof, the amount of the excess shall, notwithstanding anything in any agreement, be irrecoverable from the tenant.

(2) Where a rent for the dwelling-house is registered under Part IV of this Act, the following provisions shall apply with respect to the rent for any statutory period of a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house:—

(a) if the rent payable for any statutory period would exceed the rent so registered, the amount of the excess shall, notwithstanding anything in any agreement, be irrecoverable from the tenant; and

(b) if the rent payable for any statutory period would be less than the rent so registered, it may be increased up to the amount of that rent by a notice of increase served by the landlord on the tenant and specifying the date from which the increase is to take effect.

This subsection is subject to the following provisions of this Act: section 71(3) , paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 7, . . . . . . and paragraph 3 of Schedule 20.

(3) The date specified in a notice of increase under subsection (2)(b) above shall not be earlier than the date from which the registration of the rent took effect nor earlier than 4 weeks before the service of the notice.

(4) Where no rent for the dwelling-house is registered under Part IV of this Act, sections 46 and 47 of this Act shall have effect with respect to the rent recoverable for any statutory period under a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house.

Section 46Adjustment, with respect to rates, of recoverable rent for statutory periods before registration.

(1) Where—

(a) section 45(4) of this Act applies, and

(b) any rates in respect of the dwelling-house are, or were during the last contractual period, borne by the landlord or a superior landlord,

then, for any statutory period for which the amount of the rates (ascertained in accordance with Schedule 5 to this Act) differs from the amount, so ascertained, of the rates for the last contractual period, the recoverable rent shall be increased or decreased by the amount of the difference.

(2) Where the amount of the recoverable rent is increased by virtue of this section, the increase shall not take effect except in pursuance of a notice of increase served by the landlord on the tenant and specifying the increase and the date from which it is to take effect.

(3) The date specified in a notice of increase under subsection (2) above shall be not earlier than 6 weeks before the service of the notice, and if it is earlier than the service of the notice any rent unpaid shall become due on the day after the service of the notice.

Section 47Adjustment, with respect to services and furniture, of recoverable rent for statutory periods before registration.

(1) Where section 45(4) of this Act applies and for any statutory period there is with respect to—

(a) the provision of services for the tenant by the landlord or a superior landlord, or

(b) the use of furniture by the tenant,

or any circumstances relating thereto any difference, in comparison with the last contractual period, such as to affect the amount of the rent which it is reasonable to charge, the recoverable rent for the statutory period shall be increased or decreased by an appropriate amount.

(2) Any question whether, or by what amount, the recoverable rent for any period is increased or decreased by virtue of this section shall be determined by agreement in writing between the landlord and the tenant or by the county court; and any such determination—

(a) may be made so as to relate to past statutory periods; and

(b) shall have effect with respect to statutory periods subsequent to the periods to which it relates until revoked or varied by any such agreement as is referred to in this subsection or by the county court.

Section 49Notices of increase.

(1) Any reference in this section to a notice of increase is a reference to a notice of increase under section 45(2), or 46 of this Act.

(2) A notice of increase must be in the prescribed form.

(3) Notwithstanding that a notice of increase relates to statutory periods, it may be served during a contractual period.

(4) Where a notice of increase is served during a contractual period and the protected tenancy could, by a notice to quit served by the landlord at the same time, be brought to an end before the date specified in the notice of increase, the notice of increase shall operate to convert the protected tenancy into a statutory tenancy as from that date.

(5) If the county court is satisfied that any error or omission in a notice of increase is due to a bona fide mistake on the part of the landlord, the court may by order amend the notice by correcting any errors or supplying any omission therein which, if not corrected or supplied, would render the notice invalid and, if the court so directs, the notice as so amended shall have effect and be deemed to have had effect as a valid notice.

(6) Any amendment of a notice of increase under subsection (5) above may be made on such terms and conditions with respect to arrears of rent or otherwise as appear to the court to be just and reasonable.

(7) No increase of rent which becomes payable by reason of an amendment of a notice of increase under subsection (5) above shall be recoverable in respect of any statutory period which ended more than 6 months before the date of the order making the amendment.

Section 50Private street works to count as improvements.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 51Protection of tenants with security of tenure.

(1) In this Part of this Act a “ rent agreement with a tenant having security of tenure ” means—

(a) an agreement increasing the rent payable under a protected tenancy which is a regulated tenancy, or

(b) the grant to the tenant under a regulated tenancy, or to any person who might succeed him as a statutory tenant, of another regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house at a rent exceeding the rent under the previous tenancy.

(2) Where any rates in respect of the dwelling-house are borne by the landlord or a superior landlord, any increase or rent shall be disregarded for the purposes of the definition in subsection (1) above if the increase is no more than one corresponding to an increase in the rates borne by the landlord or a superior landlord in respect of the dwelling-house.

(3) If—

(a) a rent agreement with a tenant having security of tenure takes effect on or after the commencement of this Act, and was made at a time when no rent was registered for the dwelling-house under Part IV of this Act, . . .

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the requirements of subsection (4) below shall be observed as respects the agreement.

(4) The requirements are that—

(a) the agreement is in writing signed by the landlord and the tenant, and

(b) the document containing the agreement contains a statement, in characters not less conspicuous than those used in any other part of the agreement—

(i) that the tenant’s security of tenure under this Act will not be affected if he refuses to enter into the agreement, and

(ia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii) that entry into the agreement will not deprive the tenant or landlord of the right to apply at any time to the rent officer for the registration of a fair rent under Part IV of this Act,

or words to that effect, and

(c) the statement mentioned in paragraph (b) above is set out at the head of the document containing the agreement.

Section 52Protection: special provisions following conversion.

(1) This section applies to an agreement with a tenant having security of tenure which is entered into after the commencement of provisions following section 68(2) of the Housing Act 1980 if the tenancy has become or, conversion. as the case may be, the previous tenancy became a regulated tenancy by conversion.

(2) Any such agreement which purports to increase the rent payable under a protected tenancy shall, if entered into at a time when no rent is registered for the dwelling-house under Part IV of this Act, be void.

(3) If any such agreement constitutes a grant of a regulated tenancy and is made at a time when no rent is so registered, any excess of the rent payable under the tenancy so granted (for any contractual or statutory period of the tenancy) over the rent limit applicable to the previous tenancy, shall be irrecoverable from the tenant; but this subsection ceases to apply if a rent is subsequently so registered.

(4) For the purposes of this section a tenancy is a regulated tenancy by conversion if it has become a regulated tenancy by virtue of—

(a) Part VIII of this Act, section 43 of the Housing Act 1969 or Part 111 or IV of the Housing Finance Act 1972) (conversion of controlled tenancies into regulated tenancies); or

(b) section 18(3) of this Act or paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Rent Act 1968 (conversion on death of first successor); or

(c) section 64 of the Housing Act 1980 (conversion of all remaining controlled tenancies).

(5) This section does not apply to any agreement where the tenant is neither the person who, at the time of the conversion, was the tenant nor a person who might succeed the tenant at that time as a statutory tenant.

(6) Where a rent is registered for the dwelling-house and the registration is subsequently cancelled, this section shall not apply to the agreement submitted to the rent officer in connection with the cancellation nor to any agreement made so as to take effect after the cancellation.

Section 54Failure to comply with provisions for protection of tenants.

(1) If, in the case of a variation of the terms of a regulated tenancy, there is a failure to observe any of the requirements of section 51, . . . of this Act, any excess of the rent payable under the terms as varied over the terms without the variation shall be irrecoverable from the tenant.

(2) If, in the case of the grant of a tenancy, there is a failure to observe any of those requirements, any excess of the rent payable under the tenancy so granted (for any contractual or any statutory period of the tenancy) over the previous limit shall be irrecoverable from the tenant.

(3) In subsection (2) above the “ previous limit ” shall be taken to be the amount which (taking account of any previous operation of this section or of section 46 of the Housing Finance Act 1972, which is superseded by this section) was recoverable by way of rent for the last rental period of the previous tenancy of the dwelling-house, or which would have been so recoverable if all notices of increase authorised by this Act, the Rent Act 1968 and section 37(3) of the Act of 1972 had been served.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 57Recovery from landlord of sums paid in excess of recoverable rent, etc.

(1) Where a tenant has paid on account of rent any amount which, by virtue of this Part of this Act, is irrecoverable by the landlord, the tenant who paid it shall be entitled to recover that amount from the landlord who received it or his personal representatives.

(2) Any amount which a tenant is entitled to recover under subsection (1) above may, without prejudice to any other method of recovery, be deducted by the tenant from any rent payable by him to the landlord.

(3) No amount which a tenant is entitled to recover under subsection (1) above shall be recoverable at any time after the expiry of —

(a) one year, in the case of an amount which is irrecoverable by virtue of section 54 of this Act; or

(b) two years, in any other case.

(4) Any person who, in any rent book or similar document, makes an entry showing or purporting to show any tenant as being in arrears in respect of any sum on account of rent which is irrecoverable by virtue of this Part of this Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale , unless he proves that, at the time of the making of the entry, the landlord had a bona fide claim that the sum was recoverable.

(5) If, where any such entry has been made by or on behalf of any landlord, the landlord on being requested by or on behalf of the tenant to do so, refuses or neglects to cause the entry to be deleted within 7 days, the landlord shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale , unless he proves that, at the time of the neglect or refusal to cause the entry to be deleted, he had a bona fide claim that the sum was recoverable.

Section 58Rectification of rent books in light of determination of recoverable rent.

Where, in any proceedings, the recoverable rent of a dwelling-house subject to a regulated tenancy is determined by a court, then, on the application of the tenant (whether in those or in any subsequent proceedings), the court may call for the production of the rent book or any similar document relating to the dwelling-house and may direct the registrar or clerk of the court to correct any entries showing, or purporting to show, the tenant as being in arrears in respect of any sum which the court has determined to be irrecoverable.

Section 59Adjustment for differences in lengths of rental periods.

In ascertaining for the purposes of this Part of this Act whether there is any difference with respect to rents or rates between one rental period and another (whether of the same tenancy or not) or the amount of any such difference, any necessary adjustment shall be made to take account of periods of different lengths; and for the purposes of such an adjustment a period of one month shall be treated as equivalent to one-twelth of a year and a period of a week as equivalent to one-fifty-second of a year.

Section 60Regulations.

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations—

(a) prescribing the form of any notice or other document to be given or used in pursuance of this Part of this Act; and

(b) prescribing anything required or authorised to be prescribed by this Part of this Act.

(2) Any such regulations shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 61Interpretation of Part III.

(1) In this Part of this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

“ contractual period ” means a rental period of a regulated tenancy which is a period beginning before the expiry or termination of the protected tenancy;

“ contractual rent limit ” has the meaning assigned to it by section 44(3) of this Act;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations under section 60 of this Act and references to a prescribed form include references to a form substantially to the same effect as the prescribed form;

“ recoverable rent ” means rent which, under a regulated tenancy, is or was for the time being recoverable, having regard to the provisions of this Part of this Act;

“ rent agreement with a tenant having security of tenure ” has the meaning assigned to it by section 51 of this Act;

“ statutory period ” means any rental period of a regulated tenancy which is not a contractual period.

(2) References in this Part of this Act to rates, in respect of a dwelling-house, include references to such proportion of any rates in respect of a hereditament of which the dwelling-house forms part as may be agreed in writing between the landlord and the tenant or determined by the county court.

Section 62Registration areas.

(1) Except so far as different provision is made by an order under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992, or Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (orders constituting new local government areas etc ) the registration areas for the purpose of this Part of this Act are—

(a) counties and county boroughs ;

(b) London boroughs; and

(c) the City of London.

(2) For the purposes of this Part of this Act—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the City of London shall be deemed to include the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, and

(b) the Isles of Scilly shall be a registration area and the Council of the Isles of Scilly shall be the local authority for that registration area.

Section 63Schemes for appointment of rent officers.

(1) The Secretary of State shall for every registration area make, after consultation with the local authority, a scheme providing for the appointment by the proper officer of the local authority—

(a) of such number of rent officers for the area as may be determined by or in accordance with the scheme, . . .

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) A scheme under this section—

(a) shall provide for the payment by the local authority to rent officers . . . of remuneration and allowances in accordance with scales approved by the Secretary of State . . .;

(b) shall prohibit the dismissal of a rent officer . . . except by the proper officer of the local authority on the direction, or with the consent, of the Secretary of State;

(c) shall require the local authority to provide for the rent officers office accommodation and clerical and other assistance;

(d) shall allocate, or confer on the proper officer of the local authority the duty of allocating, work as between the rent officers and shall confer on the proper officer the duty of supervising the conduct of rent officers . . . ; . . .

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2A) A scheme under this section may make all or any of the following provisions—

(a) provision requiring the consent of the Secretary of State to the appointment of rent officers;

(b) provision with respect to the appointment of rent officers for fixed periods;

(c) provision for the proper officer of the local authority, in such circumstances and subject to such conditions (as to consent or otherwise) as may be specified in the scheme,—

(i) to designate a person appointed or to be appointed a rent officer as chief rent officer and to designate one or more such persons as senior rent officers;

(ii) to delegate to a person so designated as chief rent officer such functions as may be specified in the scheme; and

(iii) to revoke a designation under sub-paragraph (i) above and to revoke or vary a delegation under sub-paragraph (ii) above;

(d) provision with respect to the delegation of functions by a chief rent officer to other rent officers (whether designated as senior rent officers or not);

(e) provision as to the circumstances in which and the terms on which a rent officer appointed by the scheme may undertake functions outside the area to which the scheme relates in accordance with paragraph (f) below;

(f) provision under which a rent officer appointed for an area other than that to which the scheme relates may undertake functions in the area to which the scheme relates and for such a rent officer to be treated for such purposes as may be specified in the scheme (which may include the purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) above and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (2) above) as if he were a rent officer appointed under the scheme; and

(g) provision conferring functions on the proper officer of a local authority with respect to the matters referred to in paragraphs (d) to (f) above.

(3) For the purposes of any local Act scheme, within the meaning of section 8 of the Superannuation Act 1972, rent officers . . . appointed in pursuance of a scheme under this section shall be deemed to be officers in the employment of the local authority for whose area the scheme is made; and for the purposes of—

(a) Part III of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 , and

(b) the Social Security Act 1975,

they shall be deemed to be in that employment under a contract of service.

(4) In this Part “the rent officer” means–

(a) in relation to any area not specified in an order made under section 64B of this Act, any rent officer appointed for the area who is authorised to act in accordance with a scheme under this section;

(b) in relation to any area or areas so specified, any rent officer appointed by the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs .

(5) A scheme under this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent scheme made thereunder.

(6) The Secretary of State shall, in respect of each financial year, make to any local authority incurring expenditure which is of a kind mentioned in subsection (7) below, a grant equal to that expenditure.

(7) The expenditure mentioned in subsection (6) above is any expenditure—

(a) attributable to this section or an order under section 122 of the Housing Act 1996 , or

(b) incurred in respect of pensions, allowances or gratuities payable to or in respect of rent officers . . . (appointed in pursuance of a scheme under this section) by virtue of regulations under section 7 or section 24 of the Superannuation Act 1972 or

(c) incurred in respect of increases of pensions payable to or in respect of rent officers (so appointed) by virtue of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 .

(8) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue of subsection (6) above shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

(9) In the case of a registration area in respect of which there is more than one local authority, this section shall apply as if—

(a) the first reference to “the local authority” in subsection (1) were a reference to each of those local authorities which is—

(i) the county council for a county in England; or

(ii) the council for a district in England which is not in a county having a county council; and

(b) the second reference to “the local authority” in that subsection, the references to “the local authority” in subsections (2) and (2A)(c), the reference to “a local authority” in subsection (2A)(g) and the reference to “the local authority for whose area the scheme is made” in subsection (3) were references to such one of those authorities as has been designated by the scheme

Section 64Default powers of Secretary of State.

(1) If the Secretary of State is of opinion that a local authority have failed to carry out any function conferred on them by a scheme under section 63 of this Act he may, after such enquiry as he thinks fit, by order revoke the scheme and, without consulting the local authority, make another scheme under that section.

(2) A scheme made by virtue of subsection (1) above may confer functions otherwise exercisable by the local authority or the proper officer of the local authority on a person appointed by the Secretary of State and that person may, if another local authority consent, be that other local authority or, as the case may be, the proper officer of that other local authority.

(3) If the Secretary of State is of opinion that the proper officer of the local authority has failed to carry out any functions conferred on the proper officer by a scheme under section 63 he may (after consultation with the local authority) exercise his power under subsection (5) of that section by making a scheme providing for all or any of the functions otherwise exercisable by the proper officer to be exercised by some other person.

(4) A scheme made by virtue of this section may contain such incidental and transitional provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

Section 64A

(1) If the Secretary of State is of the opinion—

(a) that there is at any time insufficient work in two or more registration areas to justify the existence of a separate service of rent officers for each area, or

(b) that it would at any time be beneficial for the efficient administration of the service provided by rent officers in two or more registration areas,

he may, after consultation with the local authorities concerned, make a scheme under section 63 above designating as an amalgamated registration area the areas of those authorities and making provision accordingly for that amalgamated area.

(2) Any reference in the following provisions of this Chapter to a registration area includes a reference to an amalgamated registration area and, in relation to such an area, “ the constituent authorities ” means the local authorities whose areas make up the amalgamated area.

(3) A scheme under section 63 above made for an amalgamated registration area—

(a) shall confer on the proper officer of one of the constituent authorities all or any of the functions which, in accordance with section 63 above, fall to be exercisable by the proper officer of the local authority for the registration area;

(b) may provide that any rent officer previously appointed for the area of any one of the constituent authorities shall be treated for such purposes as may be specified in the scheme as a rent officer appointed for the amalgamated registration area; and

(c) shall make such provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate for the payment by one or more of the constituent authorities of the remunerations, allowances and other expenditure which under section 63 above is to be paid by the local authority for the area.

(4) A scheme under section 63 above made for an amalgamated registration area may contain such incidental, transitional and supplementary provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.

Section 64B

(1) If, with respect to registration areas generally or any particular registration area or areas, it appears to the Secretary of State that it is no longer appropriate for the appointment, remuneration and administration of rent officers to be a function of local authorities, he may by order—

(a) provide that no scheme under section 63 above shall be made for the area or areas specified in the order; and

(b) make, with respect to the area or areas so specified, such provision as appears to him to be appropriate with respect to the appointment, remuneration and administration of rent officers and the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of them.

(2) An order under this section shall make provision for any expenditure attributable to the provisions of the order to be met by the Secretary of State in such manner as may be specified in the order (whether by way of grant, reimbursement or otherwise); and any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue of this subsection shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

(3) An order under this section—

(a) may contain such incidental, transitional and supplementary provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate, including provisions amending this Part of this Act; and

(b) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Section 65Rent assessment committees.

Rent assessment committees for Wales shall be constituted in accordance with Schedule 10 to this Act.

Section 65ARight of appeal from a rent assessment committee

(1) An appeal on any point of law from a decision of a rent assessment committee constituted under Schedule 10 to this Act may be made to the Upper Tribunal.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the rent assessment committee is exercising functions of a leasehold valuation tribunal or a residential property tribunal.

Section 66Register of rents.

(1) For each registration area, a register for the purposes of this Part of this Act shall be prepared and kept up to date by the rent officer.

(1A) The rent officer shall make the register available for inspection in such place or places and in such manner–

(a) if the area is not specified in an order made under section 64B of this Act, as may be provided by the scheme made for the area under section 63 of this Act;

(b) if the area is so specified, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(2) The register shall contain, in addition to the rent payable under a regulated tenancy of a dwelling-house—

(a) the prescribed particulars with regard to the tenancy; and

(b) a specification of the dwelling-house.

(3) A copy of an entry in the register certified under the hand of the rent officer or any person duly authorised by him shall be receivable in evidence in any court and in any proceedings.

(4) A person requiring such a certified copy shall be entitled to obtain it on payment of the prescribed fee.

Section 67Application for registration of rent.

(1) An application for the registration of a rent for a dwelling-house may be made to the rent officer by the landlord or the tenant, or jointly by the landlord and the tenant, under a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house.

(2) Any such application must be in the prescribed form and must—

(a) specify the rent which it is sought to register;

(b) where the rent includes any sum payable by the tenant to the landlord for services and the aplication is made by the landlord, specify that sum and be accompanied by details of the expenditure incurred by the landlord in providing those services; and

(c) contain such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below and sections 67A and 70A of this Act , where a rent for a dwelling-house has been registered under this Part of this Act, no application by the tenant alone or by the landlord alone for the registration of a different rent for that dwelling-house shall be entertained before the expiry of 2 years from the relevant date (as defined in subsection (5) below) except on the ground that, since that date, there has been such a change in—

(a) the condition of the dwelling-house (including the making of any improvement therein),

(b) the terms of the tenancy,

(c) the quantity, quality or condition of any furniture provided for use under the tenancy (deterioration by fair wear and tear excluded), or

(d) any other circumstances taken into consideration when the rent was registered or confirmed,

as to make the registered rent no longer a fair rent.

(3A) If the dwelling-house forms part of a hereditament in respect of which the landlord or a superior landlord is, or was on the relevant date, liable under Part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to pay council tax, then, in determining for the purposes of subsection (3) above whether since the relevant date there has been such a change falling within paragraph (d) of that subsection as to make the registered rent no longer a fair rent, any change in the amount of council tax payable in respect of the hereditament shall be disregarded unless it is attributable to—

(a) the fact that the hereditament has become, or has ceased to be, an exempt dwelling,

(b) an alteration in accordance with regulations under section 24 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 of the valuation band shown in a valuation list as applicable to the hereditament, or

(c) the compilation of a new valuation list in consequence of an order of the Secretary of State under section 5(4)(b) of that Act.

(3B) In subsection (3A) above “hereditament” means a dwelling within the meaning of Part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and, subject to that, expressions used in subsection (3A) and in Part I of that Act have the same meaning in that subsection as in that Part.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) above, an application such as is mentioned in that subsection which is made by the landlord alone and is so made within the last 3 months of the period of 2 years referred to in that subsection may be entertained notwithstanding that that period has not expired.

(5) In this section ... “ relevant date ”, in relation to a rent which has been registered under this Part of this Act, means the date from which the registration took effect or, in the case of a registered rent which has been confirmed, the date from which the confirmation (or, where there have been two or more successive confirmations, the last of them) took effect but for the purposes of this subsection any registration or confirmation by virtue of section 70A of this Act shall be disregarded.

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) ... The provisions of Part I of Schedule 11 to this Act as modified by the Regulated Tenancies (Procedure) Regulations 1980 and by the Rent Assessment Committees (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1981 shall have effect with respect to the procedure to be followed on applications for the registration of rents.

Section 67AApplication before 1st April 1994 for interim increase of rent in certain cases where landlord liable for council tax

(1) Subject to subsection (4) below, an application under this section for the registration under section 70A of this Act of an increased rent for a dwelling-house may be made by the landlord or the tenant, or jointly by the landlord and the tenant, under a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house in any case where—

(a) under Part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the landlord or a superior landlord is liable to pay council tax in respect of a dwelling (within the meaning of that Part of that Act) which includes the dwelling-house,

(b) under the terms of the tenancy (or an agreement collateral to the tenancy) the tenant is liable to make payments to the landlord in respect of council tax,

(c) the case falls within subsection (2) or subsection (3) below, and

(d) no previous application has been made under this section in relation to the dwelling-house.

(2) The case falls within this subsection if—

(a) a rent has been registered under this Part of this Act before 1st April 1993,

(b) the period of two years from the relevant date has not yet expired, and

(c) since the relevant date there has been no such change in circumstances of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 67(3) of this Act (other than circumstances relating to council tax) as to make the registered rent no longer a fair rent.

(3) The case falls within this subsection if an application under section 67 of this Act has been made before 1st April 1993 but has not been disposed of before that date.

(4) No application may be made under this section after 31st March 1994.

(5) Any such application must be in the prescribed form and must—

(a) specify the rent which it is sought to register to take into account the tenant’s liability to make payments to the landlord in respect of council tax; and

(b) contain such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(6) The provisions of Part I of Schedule 11 to this Act (as modified by the Regulated Tenancies (Procedure) Regulations 1980 and by the Rent Assessment Committees (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1981) shall have effect with respect to the procedure to be followed on applications for the registration of rents.

(7) In this section “relevant date”, in relation to a rent which has been registered under this Part of this Act, has the same meaning as in section 67 of this Act.

Section 70Determination of fair rent.

(1) In determining, for the purposes of this Part of this Act, what rent is or would be a fair rent under a regulated tenancy of a dwelling-house, regard shall be had to all the circumstances (other than personal circumstances) and in particular to—

(a) the age, character, locality and state of repair of the dwelling-house, . . .

(b) if any furniture is provided for use under the tenancy, the quantity, quality and condition of the furniture , and

(c) any premium, or sum in the nature of a premium, which has been or may be lawfully required or received on the grant, renewal, continuance or assignment of the tenancy.

(2) For the purposes of the determination it shall be assumed that the number of persons seeking to become tenants of similar dwelling-houses in the locality on the terms (other than those relating to rent) of the regulated tenancy is not substantially greater than the number of such dwelling-houses in the locality which are available for letting on such terms.

(3) There shall be disregarded—

(a) any disrepair or other defect attributable to a failure by the tenant under the regulated tenancy or any predecessor in title of his to comply with any terms thereof;

(b) any improvement carried out, otherwise than in pursuance of the terms of the tenancy, by the tenant under the regulated tenancy or any predecessor in title of his;

(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) if any furniture is provided for use under the regulated tenancy, any improvement to the furniture by the tenant under the regulated tenancy or any predecessor in title of his or, as the case may be, any deterioration in the condition of the furniture due to any ill-treatment by the tenant, any person residing or lodging with him, or any sub-tenant of his.

(3A) In any case where under Part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the landlord or a superior landlord is liable to pay council tax in respect of a hereditament (“the relevant hereditament”) of which the dwelling-house forms part, regard shall also be had to the amount of council tax which, as at the date on which the application to the rent officer was made, was set by the billing authority—

(a) for the financial year in which that application was made, and

(b) for the category of dwellings within which the relevant hereditament fell on that date,

but any discount or other reduction affecting the amount of council tax payable shall be disregarded.

(3B) In subsection (3A) above—

(a) “hereditament” means a dwelling within the meaning of Part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1992,

(b) “billing authority” has the same meaning as in that Part of that Act, and

(c) “category of dwellings” has the same meaning as in section 30(1) and (2) of that Act.

(4) In this section “ improvement ” includes the replacement of any fixture or fitting.

(4A) In this section “ premium ” has the same meaning as in Part IX of this Act, and “ sum in the nature of a premium ” means—

(a) any such loan as is mentioned in section 119 or 120 of this Act,

(b) any such excess over the reasonable price of furniture as is mentioned in section 123 of this Act, and

(c) any such advance payment of rent as is mentioned in section 126 of this Act.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

332 sections

Cite this legislation

Rent Act 1977 (legislation.gov.uk, OGL v3.0). Retrieved via LawPlayer, https://lawplayer.com/uk/act/ukpga-1977-42

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

OGL-3

本頁資料來源:legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)·整理提供:法律人 LawPlayer· lawplayer.com