Leasehold Property

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 April 1953.

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Photo of Mr Robert Jenkins Mr Robert Jenkins , Camberwell Dulwich 12:00, 30 April 1953

The hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) asks whether it should be a rack rent or a ground rent. I did not propose to go into details, but I would like to do so now in order to inform the House what is in my mind and in the minds of a large number of my constituents. It would be perfectly proper and simple to have, perhaps, ground rent increasing from £5-£10, with a sum by way of premium which would go back to the Dulwich College Estates for their investments for charitable purposes, and the Government would, at the same time, extend the lease for 40, 50 or perhaps 60 years.

That was what was in my mind; the details can be worked out. If tonight the Minister could say that this point would be taken into consideration, I am certain that it would help hundreds of people to maintain the property in a state of good repair during the fag-end of the lease because of the certain knowledge that they would get an extension. In congratulating and thanking the Government for this Bill and the White Paper, I suggest that consideration of the point I have raised would be of great assistance and comfort to large numbers of leaseholders at the present moment.