The Cabinet has instructed the Attorney General to have the Law Reform Commission review the issue of landlord-tenant relationships with the goal of making law reforms reflecting modern day standards, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said Friday.
There has been a lot of contention between landlord and tenants since Hurricane Ivan, as a lack of accommodation has created a large demand.
Tenants have complained of rent price gouging and improper terminations of leases.
Mr. Tibbetts said that currently the relationship between landlords and tenants is regulated by three laws; the Landlord and Tenants Law, the Registered Land Law (2004); and the principles of Common Law.
‘The current Landlord and Tenant Law was originally enacted in January, 1964,’ he said. ‘There is no evidence that it has ever been amended.
‘Accordingly, it is not difficult to understand why a law that was enacted 41 years ago would now require serious review in order to reflect contemporary best practices as it relates to the whole issue of tenants’ rights versus landlords rights,’ he said.
Mr. Tibbetts pointed out that the issue is not just one sided, as landlords have complained that tenants expect landlords to absorb hurricane restoration costs along with increased insurance costs, increase strata fees and increased property costs.
‘The government is committed to finding a solution that will take into account all the competing views,’ Mr. Tibbetts said. ‘It is indeed a very delicate balancing exercise that has to be undertaken.’
Mr. Tibbetts said the Law Reform Commission did not have a fixed time to complete the exercise, but they would ‘work as swiftly as they can’.
‘(This situation) can’t be fixed overnight, even though some people face almost emergency situations in housing.’
In the interim, Mr. Tibbetts appealed for reason to prevail in the relationships between landlords and tenants.
Related Videos
