asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been called to the hardships inflicted on leaseholders in county boroughs and urban districts by reason of the fact that, on the expiration of their leases, ground landlords invariably increase ground rents to a substantial extent and impose on leaseholders other burdens which are so onerous as to be unjustifiable; whether it is his intention to take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to put an end to this practice; and if so, when he will introduce proposals for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ground Rent Increases.
Landlords are not free, as seems to be implied in the question, to charge any rent or impose any conditions they like upon the renewal of expiring leases. Under Part V of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, the terms upon which reversionary leases may be granted are regulated and no landlord may arbitrarily dictate the terms of the new lease. Whether the provisions of the 1931 Act require modification in favour of leaseholders is a difficult question upon which I am not at present prepared to commit myself. An opportunity of considering the matter in all its aspects will present itself when a Bill to amend the Act of 1931 on comprehensive lines is introduced. It has not been found possible to make the progress I had hoped for in the preparation of this Bill owing to my Department's preoccupation with more urgent matters, but I shall endeavour to secure that the Bill will be ready for introduction as early as possible next year.