Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1923

Application to business premises.

17.—(1) This Act shall apply to any premises used for business trade or professional purposes or for the public service as it applies to a dwelling-house, and as though references to “dwelling-house” “house” and “dwelling” included references to any such premises, but this Act in its application to such premises shall have effect subject to the following modifications:—

(a) The following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph (d) of sub-section (1) of section eight:—

(d) In addition to any amounts as aforesaid, an amount not exceeding twenty-five per centum of the standard rent.

(b) The following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph (d) of sub-section (1) of section four:—

(d) the premises are reasonably required by the landlord for business, trade or professional purposes or for the public service, and the Court is satisfied that alternative accommodation, reasonably equivalent as regards rent and suitability in all respects, is available; or that the premises are bona fide required for the purpose of a scheme of reconstruction or improvement which appears to the Court to be desirable in the public interest.

(2) The application of this Act to such premises as aforesaid shall not extend to a letting or tenancy in any market or fair where the rent or conditions of tenancy are controlled or regulated by or in pursuance of any statute or charter, or to any letting or tenancy from year to year or for a term of years.

(3) When any order or judgment for the recovery of possession of any premises to which this Act, by virtue of this section, applies, or for the ejectment of a tenant therefrom, has been made or given before the passing of this Act, but not executed, and, in the opinion of the Court, the order or judgment would not have been made or given if this Act had been in force at the time when such order or judgment was made or given, the Court may, on application by the tenant, rescind or vary such order or judgment in such manner as the Court may think fit for the purpose of giving effect to this Act.

(4) This section shall come into operation on the passing of this Act.