asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that landlords and their agents are raising rents in all cases where the lease expires; and if he will take such steps as are necessary to see that tenants do not suffer this hardship, and if he will indicate the nature of the steps.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Raising of House Rents.
Tenants are protected by the Rent Restrictions Acts, by the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, and by the Emergency Powers Order made last year. The object aimed at in these Acts, and in the Order, is not to forbid all increases in rent but to specify the nature and extent of permitted increases, such as an increase to recoup the landlord in respect of rates paid by him or repairs executed by him.
A Bill intended to replace the Rent Restrictions Acts by a single Act, with certain amendments, has already been introduced and will shortly be circulated, and certain amendments of the Landlord and Tenant Act are under consideration, but, generally, I do not propose to depart from the principle of allowing increases within permitted limits.
Will the Minister see that certain landladies and landlords will not increase their rents to three times the normal amount during the interval between now and the introduction of the Bill? This practice is a great hardship and creates a lot of trouble.
Mr. Boland
I should be very much surprised to hear that that was happening. The object of the Emergency Powers Order was to prevent that.
I could give the Minister information on the point.
Mr. Boland
I should be glad to get any particulars the Deputy has.