adminThe Herald 6 January 1971
Every tenant has certain defined rights set out in the Rent Regulations 1970, and has the right to apply to the Rent Control Board for a rent order if he objects to the rent he must pay for a flat or house.
The Rent Regulations apply to all dwellings, except to boarding houses, hotels and other accommodation where the rent includes payment for a meal.
Landlords also have the right to apply to the Board for a rent order on a certain property of a variation of an existing rent order.
A tenant’s rights provide that he may not be refused a dwelling because he has children.
The landlord may not, in fact, even inquire whether the prospective tenant has children.
A tenant may not be evicted from a house or flat, except where he is guilty of “misconduct”. This includes failure to pay rent or the contravention of the lease agreement, such as subletting without the landlord’s authority.
A landlord may also ask the tenant to leave if the dwelling is needed by the owner for his personal occupation, or for his family or employees, or if the building is to be involved in a reconstruction scheme.
It is an offence for a landlord to ask his tenants to pay excessive deposits, or fees for the preparation of a lease agreement.
For example, a deposit may not exceed one month’s rent, Where the landlord himself has drawn up or prepared the lease agreement, his fee may not be more than $2.
Online Reporter