FREEZING OF GROUND AND HOUSE RENTS

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider introducing legislation to freeze, for an appropriate period, all ground and house rentals which are at present charged at rates below $250 per month and which are outside the existing scope of the Control of Rent Act, so as to prevent landlords taking undue advantage of tenants in the lower income group.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is considered inappropriate to introduce legislation to freeze all ground rents and house rents not more than $250 per month for premises which are not subject to the Control of Rent Act. The premises subject to rent control are those built before 7th September, 1947, and it is undesirable at this stage to extend this Act beyond its present limits.

The Government is conscious of the need to safeguard the legitimate interests of tenants, particularly those in the lower income groups. Towards this end, the Housing and Development Board has stepped up its development programme to meet the housing requirements of the lower income groups, thus keeping rents for them within bounds.

Action on the lines suggested by the Member for Jalan Kayu will tend to retard the pace of building both of new residential estates, condominiums, and housing in urban renewal areas.