FAIR RENTS ACT. Act No. 37, 1939. An Act to make provision in relation to the rents of certain dwelling-houses and shops; t o ' provide for the determination and enforcement of fair rents for certain dwelling-houses and shops ; to amend certain Acts ; and for purposes consequent thereon or incidental thereto. [Assented to, 13th November, 1939.] BE B E it enacted b y t h e K i n g ' s Most Excellent Majesty, b y a n d with t h e advice a n d consent of t h e Legis lative Council a n d Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, a n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e same, as follows :-- 1. (1) T h i s A c t m a y be cited as the " F a i r R e n t s Act, 1939." (2) T h i s Act shall commence on a d a y to be a p p o i n t e d by the G o v e r n o r a n d notified by proclamation published in the Gazette. 2 . I n this Act, unless the c o n t r a r y intention a p p e a r s : -- " D w e l l i n g - h o u s e " m e a n s a n y p r e m i s e s leased wholly or p a r t i a l l y for residence by a lessee a n d includes a n y p a r t of a n y such p r e m i s e s separ ately leased a n d a n y l a n d or a p p u r t e n a n c e s leased with such p r e m i s e s or such p a r t thereof. " L e a s e " includes, subject to the limitations of section t h r e e of this Act, every letting of a dwelling-house or shop w h e t h e r oral, in writing, or by d e e d ; a n d " l e a s e d " h a s a c o r r e s p o n d i n g meaning. " L e s s o r " a n d " l e s s e e " m e a n the p a r t i e s to a lease as herein defined a n d respectively include a mesne lessor a n d a mesne lessee a n d also any p e r s o n from time to time d e r i v i n g title u n d e r the original lessor or lessee. " P r e s c r i b e d " m e a n s p r e s c r i b e d by this Act or by the regulations made thereunder. " R a t e s " m e a n s a n y c h a r g e s levied by the council of a municipality or shire or by the Municipal Council of Sydney or by the M e t r o p o l i t a n W a t e r , S e w e r a g e a n d D r a i n a g e B o a r d , or the H u n t e r District W a t e r B o a r d , or the B r o k e n Hill W a t e r B o a r d , or by a s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y . "Rent" includes-- (a) any bonus p a i d or to be p a i d by the lessee to his l e s s o r ; (b) the value to the lessor of a n y covenants or conditions in or r e l a t i n g to the lease to be p e r f o r m e d by the lessee o t h e r than usual covenants a n d c o n d i t i o n s : (c) (c) a n y r a t e s or taxes p a y a b l e by the lessee in respect of the dwelling-house or shop, but excepting excess w a t e r r a t e s , g a r b age, a n d s a n i t a r y c h a r g e s if p a i d by (he t e n a n t . W h e r e in a n y lease m a d e after the thirty-first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d and thirty-nine, it is provided t h a t a reduced amount, as rent, shall be accepted by the lessor upon any condition to be p e r f o r m e d by the lessee, such reduced a m o u n t shall be taken to be the r e n t u n d e r the l e a s e ; a n d if any rebate, discount, allowance or other reduction from any r e n t is p r o v i d e d for in any such lease, the rent shall be deemed to be the a m o u n t payable by the lessee after every such reduction is made. " S h o p " m e a n s a n y p r e m i s e s leased wholly o r p a r tially for the p u r p o s e s of a shop and includes a n y p a r t of a n y such p r e m i s e s s e p a r a t e l y leased, and a n y land or a p p u r t e n a n c e s leased with such premises or such p a r t thereof. 3. (1) Subject to section four this Act shall a p p l y to-- (a) any dwelling-house which is subject to a lease m a d e before or after the commencement of this Act at a r e n t not exceeding t h r e e p o u n d s ten shillings a week or which, a t a n y time after the thirty-first d a y of May, one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, a n d before the com mencement of this Act, has been subject to a lease as a dwelling-house at a rent not exceeding three p o u n d s ten shillings a week; (b) any shop which is subject to a lease m a d e before or after the commencement of this Act, at a r e n t not exceeding six p o u n d s a week or which, at a n y time after the thirty-first d a y of May, one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, and before the commencement of this Act, h a s been subject to a lease as a shop a t a r e n t not exceed ing six p o u n d s a week; (c) a building p a r t l y a dwelling-house a n d p a r t l y a shop leased to one t e n a n t at one r e n t not exceeding six p o u n d s a week; (d) ( d ) a building p a r t l y a dwelling-house a n d p a r t l y a shop p a r t i a l l y leased or wholly leased t o s e p a r a t e t e n a n t s , when a n y p a r t leased, if a s e p a r a t e building, would be subject to this Act, b u t only in r e s p e c t of such p a r t while so leased. (2) T h i s A c t shall bind the Crown. 4. (1) T h i s Act shall not a p p l y t o -- ( a ) a n y p r e m i s e s licensed u n d e r the L i q u o r Act, 1912; or (b) the p r e m i s e s of a n y r e g i s t e r e d c l u b ; or (c) a n y dwelling-house o r d i n a r i l y leased for s u m m e r r e s i d e n c e ; or (d) a dwelling-house with which is occupied an a r e a g r e a t e r t h a n one half-acre. (2) This Act shall not a p p l y to a n y building erected on a g r i c u l t u r a l land as defined in the A g r i c u l t u r a l Lessees Relief Act, 1931. 5. (1) ( a ) W h e r e a dwelling-house or shop w a s sub ject to a lease as a dwelling-house or shop which w a s subsisting a t a n y time a f t e r the thirty-first d a y of May, one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, b u t w a s n o t subsisting on the thirty-first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, then, u n t i l a d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the f a i r r e n t thereof is m a d e by a c o u r t u n d e r this Act, the r e n t p a y a b l e a f t e r the commencement of this Act by a n y lessee of such dwelling-house or shop shall not exceed t h e r e n t which w a s p a y a b l e a s for the l a s t r e n t a l p e r i o d before the thirty-first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, u n d e r the lease which w a s sub sisting d u r i n g t h a t r e n t a l period. (b) W h e r e a dwelling-house or shop w a s sub ject to a lease as a dwelling-house or shop which w a s subsisting on the thirty-first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, then, until a d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the fair r e n t thereof is m a d e by a court u n d e r t h i s Act, the r e n t p a y a b l e after the commencement of this Act by a n y lessee of such dwelling-house or shop shall n o t exceed the r e n t which w a s p a y a b l e as a t the t h i r t y first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d and t h i r t y - n i n e , u n d e r the lease which w a s subsisting at t h a t date. (2) ( 2 ) T h e provisions of subsection two of section t h i r t e e n a n d of sections fourteen, fifteen a n d sixteen of this A c t shall a p p l y to a n d in respect of a n y dwellinghouse o r shop to which subsection one of this section applies in like m a n n e r as if the m a x i m u m r e n t p a y a b l e b y the lessee of such dwelling-house or shop u n d e r sub section one of this section h a d been d e t e r m i n e d by a c o u r t u n d e r this Act a s the fair r e n t of t h a t dwelling-house or shop. F o r the p u r p o s e s of the application of the provisions of subsection two of section t h i r t e e n a n d of sections four teen, fifteen a n d sixteen of this Act to a n y such dwellinghouse or shop a reference in a n y of those provisions to t h e p e r i o d d u r i n g which a d e t e r m i n a t i o n is in force shall, in the application of t h a t provision to a p a r t i c u l a r dwelling-house or shop, he construed as a reference to the period d u r i n g which subsection one of this section continues to a p p l y to t h a t dwelling-house or shop. (3) W h e r e -- (a) a sum h a s been p a i d by a lessee, either before or after the commencement of this Act, as r e n t for a dwelling-house or shop to which subsection one of this section a p p l i e s ; a n d (b) such sum w a s so p a i d in respect of a r e n t a l period which commenced after the thirty-first d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, a n d expired before the commence m e n t of this A c t ; a n d (c) such sum was in excess of the m a x i m u m r e n t which, u n d e r subsection one of this section, is p a y a b l e after the commencement of this Act for t h a t dwelling-house or shop in respect of a like r e n t a l period, the a m o u n t of such excess m a y be recovered by the lessee who p a i d the same from the lessor to whom it was paid in an action of debt in a n y competent court. (4) I t shall he a sufficient defence to a n y action r e f e r r e d to in subsection t h r e e of this section if the de fendant p r o v e s -- (a) t h a t s u b s t a n t i a l a l t e r a t i o n s or additions h a d been m a d e to the dwelling-house or shop, or that. the the outgoings of the lessor in respect of the dwelling-house or shop h a d been i n c r e a s e d ; a n d (b) (i) that, in the case of a dwelling-house or shop to which p a r a g r a p h (a) of subsection one of this section applies, such additions or a l t e r a t i o n s h a d been m a d e or such outgoings h a d been increased since the last r e n t a l p e r i o d r e f e r r e d to in t h a t p a r a g r a p h a n d before the commencement of the r e n t a l p e r i o d in respect of which the a m o u n t sought to be recovered w a s p a i d ; or (ii) t h a t , in the case of a dwelling-house or shop to which p a r a g r a p h (b) of subsection one of this section applies, such additions or a l t e r a t i o n s h a d been m a d e or such outgoings h a d been increased since the thirty-first clay of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d nine h u n d r e d a n d thirty-nine, a n d before the commencement of the r e n t a l p e r i o d in respect of which the a m o u n t sought to be recovered w a s p a i d ; a n d (c) t h a t the r e n t of which the a m o u n t sought to be recovered formed p a r t was, in the circumstances, a reasonable r e n t for the dwelling-house or shop. (5) Proceeding's in an action for the recovery of a n y a m o u n t p u r s u a n t to subsection t h r e e of this section shall be i n s t i t u t e d within t h r e e m o n t h s after the com mencement of this Act. 6. (1) The jurisdiction conferred upon a court by t h i s A c t shall be exercised by the court of p e t t y sessions n e a r e s t to the dwelling-house or shop in respect of which an application u n d e r this Act is m a d e : P r o v i d e d t h a t such jurisdiction m a y be exercised by a court of p e t t y sessions which is not the c o u r t of p e t t y sessions n e a r e s t to the dwelling-house or shop in respect of which the application is m a d e if it is satisfied t h a t no h a r d s h i p will be occasioned to either p a r t y thereby. (2) A c o u r t exercising j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r this A c t shall be holden before a s t i p e n d i a r y or police m a g i s t r a t e . (3) T h e court of p e t t y sessions holden at the W a t e r Police Office, Sydney, shall not exercise the jurisdiction conferred on a court by this Act. 7. (1) (a) Any l e s s o r ; or (b) any lessee who lias p a i d or t e n d e r e d all r e n t p a y a b l e u n d e r his lease, m a y a p p l y to a c o u r t for the d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the fair r e n t of the dwelling-house or shop leased by or to him. (2) The application shall be m a d e to the clerk of the court of p e t t y sessions and shall be in o r to the effect of the form prescribed. (3) The court shall h e a r the application a n d deter mine the fair r e n t . (4) If the dwelling-house or shop be subject to any m o r t g a g e the m o r t g a g e e shall be entitled to notice of the application a n d to be a p a r t y to the proceedings. (5) W h e r e , p r i o r to the date of the receipt of the application, the lessor h a s given a valid w r i t t e n notice to t e r m i n a t e the lease or to quit the p r e m i s e s a n d such notice h a s not been waived, the court shall not e n t e r t a i n the application. (6) W h e r e the dwelling-house or shop is v a c a t e d by the a p p l i c a n t lessee a t or before the d a t e fixed for the h e a r i n g of the application, the court m a y strike such application out of its list. 8. (1) The court m a y receive as evidence s t a t u t o r y declarations m a d e as prescribed, a n d shall take the oral evidence of the p a r t i e s a n d of witnesses called on their behalf. B u t the m a g i s t r a t e m a y , if he thinks fit, require the a t t e n d a n c e of a n y d e c l a r a n t for p u r p o s e s of crossexamination on the contents of his declaration, a n d fail ing such a t t e n d a n c e the declaration shall not be receivable as evidence. (2) T h e practice upon the h e a r i n g of a n y applica tion u n d e r this Act shall in respect of the examination a n d cross-examination of witnesses a n d the r i g h t of a d d r e s s i n g the m a g i s t r a t e upon the case in r e p l y or otherwise be as n e a r l y as possible in accordance with t h a t of the S u p r e m e Court u p o n the t r i a l of an issue of fact in an action a t law. (3) U p o n the h e a r i n g of a n y application u n d e r this Act any p a r t y t h e r e t o m a y be r e p r e s e n t e d by counsel or a t t o r n e y , or by an a g e n t duly a p p o i n t e d in w r i t i n g in t h a t behalf. 7. 9. 9. ( 1 ) I n d e t e r m i n i n g the f a i r r e n t the c o u r t shall first a s c e r t a i n the c a p i t a l value of the dwelling-house or shop a s a t the time of the receipt of the application. Such c a p i t a l value shall be the c a p i t a l s u m which the fee-simple of the p r o p e r t y c o m p r i s i n g the dwelling-house or shop a n d the l a n d occupied t h e r e w i t h m i g h t be expected to realise if offered for sale on such r e a s o n a b l e t e r m s a n d conditions as a bona-fide seller would r e q u i r e . ( 2 ) ( a ) T h e court shall d e t e r m i n e the f a i r r e n t a t a r a t e of one a n d one-half p e r centum above the p r e s c r i b e d r a t e on the capital value of t h e dwelling-house or shop d e t e r m i n e d as aforesaid, plus the a n n u a l r a t e s on the same, p l u s the a m o u n t e s t i m a t e d to be r e q u i r e d a n n u a l l y for r e p a i r s (including p a i n t i n g ) , m a i n t e n a n c e , a n d renewal, a n d plus i n s u r a n c e of a n y buildings, a n d p l u s a n a m o u n t e s t i m a t e d to be the a n n u a l depreciation in value of the buildings, if such depreciation diminishes t h e i r letting value, a n d p l u s such a m o u n t (if a n y ) a s the c o u r t m a y deem p r o p e r to be allowed for the e s t i m a t e d t i m e p e r y e a r when the dwelling-house or shop m a y be untenanted. (b) (i) F o r the p u r p o s e s of this subsection the e x p r e s s i o n " t h e p r e s c r i b e d r a t e " m e a n s the r a t e speci fied in a notification published by the Minister in t h e Gazette a n d in force for the time being. (ii) T h e M i n i s t e r shall cause a notification of the p r e s c r i b e d r a t e to be published in the Gazette within one week a f t e r the commencement of this Act, a n d t h e r e a f t e r a t i n t e r v a l s of not less t h a n t h r e e m o n t h s . (iii) A n y such notification shall be deemed to be revoked by a subsequent notification u n d e r this section. (iv) The r a t e which shall be specified in a n y such notification shall be the a v e r a g e r a t e of i n t e r e s t on first m o r t g a g e s on u r b a n securities as calculated b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t S t a t i s t i c i a n from p a r t i c u l a r s shown in m o r t g a g e s on such securities r e g i s t e r e d a t the office of the R e g i s t r a r - G e n e r a l d u r i n g a p e r i o d of not less t h a n t h r e e m o n t h s a n d not m o r e t h a n twelve m o n t h s p r e c e d i n g the d a t e u p o n which the notification of such r a t e is pub lished in the Gazette. (v) (v) T h e a v e r a g e r a t e of i n t e r e s t shall he so calculated to the n e a r e s t o n e - q u a r t e r of one p e r centum. (3) If the court b y its d e t e r m i n a t i o n increases or d e c r e a s e s the r e n t of a n y dwelling-house or shop above o r below the r e n t p a y a b l e u n d e r the lease a t the d a t e w h e n the application w a s m a d e , such increase or decrease shall not take effect until the e x p i r a t i o n of fourteen d a y s a f t e r the date of such d e t e r m i n a t i o n . 10. W h e r e a dwelling-house or shop is occupied by two or m o r e s e p a r a t e lessees, the c o u r t shall determine the fair r e n t of the whole, a n d then d e t e r m i n e the p r o p o r tion of such fair r e n t which it shall deem to be the fair r e n t of the p o r t i o n of the dwelling-house or shop of the lessee m a k i n g the application. 1 1 . ( 1 ) W h e r e an application h a s been m a d e by a lessee to d e t e r m i n e the fair r e n t of a dwelling-house or shop leased to him, then if the lessee h a s duly p a i d the r e n t of the dwelling-house or shop a n d h a s otherwise p e r f o r m e d the conditions of his lease, the lessor or a n y p e r s o n p u r p o r t i n g to act on his behalf shall not, without reasonable cause, d e m a n d a n y increased r e n t or give a n y notice or take any proceedings to d e t e r m i n e the lease or recover possession of the dwelling-house or shop d u r i n g t h e pendency of the application or d u r i n g the p e r i o d the d e t e r m i n a t i o n is in force. A n y p e r s o n c o n t r a v e n i n g a n y of the provisions of this section shall he liable to a p e n a l t y not exceeding fifty pounds. (2) W h e r e a valid notice to quit a dwelling-house o r shop or to t e r m i n a t e the lease thereof h a s been given p r i o r to the lodging of an application for the d e t e r m i n a tion of the fair r e n t thereof, the t a k i n g of proceedings to recover possession of the dwelling-house or shop shall n o t be a c o n t r a v e n t i o n of this section. (3) W h e r e at least twenty-eight d a y s ' notice to q u i t a dwelling-house or shop or to t e r m i n a t e the lease thereof a t the end of the period of a d e t e r m i n a t i o n or a t some date subsequent to such period, is given by a lessor, the giving of such notice shall not in a n y case be a c o n t r a v e n t i o n of this section. +ll45--P (4) (4) W h e r e a lessor h a s u p o n the sale of a dwel ling-house or shop a g r e e d to give v a c a n t possession thereof to the p u r c h a s e r , a n d gives at least twenty-eight d a y s ' notice to the lessee r e q u i r i n g him to quit t h e dwelling-house or shop, n e i t h e r t h e g i v i n g of such notice n o r the t a k i n g of a n y proceedings to recover the p o s s e s sion of the dwelling-house or shop shall be a c o n t r a v e n tion of this section. (5) W h e r e a dwelling-house is reasonably r e q u i r e d by the lessor for occupation as a residence for himself or for some m e m b e r of his family, a n d the lessor gives a t least twenty-eight d a y s ' notice to the lessee r e q u i r i n g him to quit the dwelling-house, n e i t h e r the giving of such notice n o r the t a k i n g of a n y p r o c e e d i n g s to recover the possession of the dwelling-house shall b e a c o n t r a v e n t i o n of this section. ( 6 ) T h e provisions of subsections two, three, f o u r a n d five of this section shall n o t be construed so as to affect the generality of the expression " r e a s o n a b l e c a u s e " in subsection one of this section. 1 2 . I n a n y case w h e r e the a p p l i c a n t is the lessee of a dwelling-house a n d f u r n i t u r e , the court shall d e t e r m i n e the fair r e n t of the dwelling-house i r r e s p e c t i v e of t h e f u r n i t u r e , a n d shall also d e t e r m i n e in its discretion t h e a m o u n t of r e n t to be p a i d for the f u r n i t u r e . 13. (1) The d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the court, except a s h e r e i n a f t e r provided, shall r e m a i n in force for a p e r i o d of twelve m o n t h s after the d e t e r m i n a t i o n . (2) Such d e t e r m i n a t i o n while in force shall a p p l y to a n y lease of the dwelling-house or shop then c u r r e n t , a n d to the lessor a n d lessee thereof, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y change of ownership or tenancy. (3) T h e c o u r t may, u p o n application m a d e a s prescribed, v a r y a d e t e r m i n a t i o n w h e r e it is satisfied-- ( a ) t h a t by an e r r o r o r omission a n injustice h a s been occasioned t h e r e b y ; or (b) t h a t s u b s t a n t i a l a l t e r a t i o n s or additions h a v e been m a d e to the dwelling-house or shop since the d e t e r m i n a t i o n w a s m a d e ; or (c) (c) t h a t the outgoings of the lessor in respect of the dwelling-house or shop have been increased since the d e t e r m i n a t i o n w a s made. (4) E x c e p t as p r o v i d e d in subsection t h r e e of this section a d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the fair r e n t of a dwellinghouse or shop shall not be v a r i e d while such d e t e r m i n a t i o n is in force. (5) An application shall not be m a d e to deter m i n e the fair r e n t of a dwelling-house or shop in respect of which a d e t e r m i n a t i o n is for the time being in force. 14. D u r i n g the p e r i o d in which any d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e f a i r r e n t of a dwelling-house or shop is in force, the r e n t p a y a b l e by a n y lessee shall not exceed the fair r e n t a s so determined, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y t e r m or covenant in a n y lease c u r r e n t a t the time of the application, or m a d e at a n y time t h e r e a f t e r d u r i n g such period, a n d a n y s u m p a i d as r e n t d u r i n g such p e r i o d by a n y lessee in excess of such f a i r r e n t m a y be recovered by the lessee f r o m the lessor to whom it w a s p a i d in a n action of debt in a n y competent court. 15. A n y p e r s o n who, d u r i n g the period in which a n y d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the f a i r r e n t of a dwelling-house or s h o p is in force, lets the said dwelling-house or shop at a r e n t exceeding the fair r e n t d e t e r m i n e d by the court, o r d u r i n g such p e r i o d knowingly receives a n y sum as r e n t exceeding the fair r e n t as so determined shall be liable to a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding t w e n t y p o u n d s . 1(>. W h i l e a n y such d e t e r m i n a t i o n in respect of a dwelling-house or shop is in force, the legal remedies for enforcing a n y covenant o r agreement-- (a) to p a y r e n t for such dwelling-house or shop in excess of t h a t fixed by such d e t e r m i n a t i o n ; or (b) which directly or indirectly would secure to a n y p e r s o n the p a y m e n t of r e n t or of money in respect of the occupation of such dwelling-house or shop so t h a t the a m o u n t received by such p e r s o n would exceed the f a i r r e n t fixed by such determination, s h a l l be limited to enforcing the fair r e n t so determined. 17. 17. (1) A n y p e r s o n who by a n y t h r e a t e n d e a v o u r s to d i s s u a d e or p r e v e n t a lessee from m a k i n g or prosecut i n g a n y application u n d e r this Act shall be liable to a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding fifty p o u n d s . (2) A n y p e r s o n who unlawfully does or p r o c u r e s a n y act or t h i n g to be done for the p u r p o s e of i m p o s i n g a n y d e t r i m e n t or d i s a d v a n t a g e upon a lessee by r e a s o n of his h a v i n g m a d e a n application u n d e r this Act, shall be liable to a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding fifty p o u n d s ; a n d if two or m o r e p e r s o n s concur in the doing of a n y such act, or in p r o c u r i n g a n y such t h i n g to be done, t h e y shall each be liable to a p e n a l t y not exceeding one h u n d r e d p o u n d s . 18. (1) A n y p e r s o n who, w h e t h e r as p r i n c i p a l agent or in any o t h e r capacity,-- or (a) gives or receives, or offers, p r o m i s e s , or a g r e e s to give or receive a n y bonus or p r e m i u m or a n y sum of money other t h a n r e n t in consideration of the g r a n t or acceptance of a n y lease or of the renewal thereof or of an a g r e e m e n t for a lease or for the r e n e w a l of a lease of a dwellinghouse or shop, or for giving his consent to a sublease thereof; or (b) m a k e s it a condition of the g r a n t i n g of any lease t h a t the lessee shall p u r c h a s e a n y f u r n i t u r e or other article, or p a y or give a n y consideration for obtaining a key of the dwelling-house o r shop, shall be liable to a p e n a l t y not exceeding fifty p o u n d s . (2) A n y a g r e e m e n t , w h e t h e r o r a l or in w r i t i n g , which in a n y w a y c o n t r a v e n e s the p r o v i s i o n s of t h i s section shall to that extent be null a n d void. 19. A n y p e r s o n who refuses to let a dwelling-house to a n y respectable a n d responsible a p p l i c a n t who lias a child or children shall be liable to a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding fifty p o u n d s : P r o v i d e d t h a t in a n y p r o s e c u t i o n u n d e r this section it snail be a sufficient defence to show t h a t such refusal w a s n o t due to the fact t h a t the a p p l i c a n t h a d a child or children. 20. 20. A n y p e r s o n who-- (a) i n s t r u c t s an a g e n t not to l e t ; or (b) s t a t e s his intention, w h e t h e r by a d v e r t i s e m e n t o r otherwise, n o t to let, a dwelling-house to a n y p e r s o n who h a s a child or children shall be liable to a p e n a l t y n o t exceeding fifty p o u n d s . 2 1 . (1) The court in every case shall have jurisdiction to inquire a n d decide w h e t h e r a n y application or subjectm a t t e r is within the provisions of this Act, a n d w h e t h e r such application a n d subject-matter m a y be considered a n d d e t e r m i n e d h e r e u n d e r ; a n d every decision, deter m i n a t i o n and o r d e r of the court p u r p o r t i n g to have been m a d e u n d e r the provisions of this Act shall be final, and no w r i t of prohibition or c e r t i o r a r i shall lie in r e s p e c t thereof. (2) T h e court m a y , at a n y stage of the proceed i n g s before it, state, in the form of a special case for t h e opinion of the S u p r e m e Court, a n y question of law a r i s i n g in the course of the proceedings. (3) The S u p r e m e Court, for the p u r p o s e of hear ing a n y such case, m a y consist of one or m o r e j u d g e s . (4) The j u d g e s of the S u p r e m e Court, or any two of them, m a y make rules with r e g a r d to the s e t t i n g down of a n y case for a r g u m e n t , a n d the h e a r i n g and decision of the same a n d its r e t u r n with the decision of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t thereon. (5) T h e decision of the S u p r e m e C o u r t on the h e a r i n g of a n y such case shall be binding upon the court a n d u p o n the p a r t i e s to the proceedings. 2 2 . T h e court m a y make such a p p o r t i o n m e n t a s seems j u s t in a n y case in which it thinks a n a p p o r t i o n m e n t is n e c e s s a r y to c a r r y out its p o w e r s u n d e r this Act. 2 3 . No costs shall be allowed in a n y proceeding u n d e r this Act. 2 4 . A n y covenant or a g r e e m e n t by which a n y p e r s o n p u r p o r t s to limit his r i g h t to proceed u n d e r this Act for the d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the fair r e n t of a dwelling-house or shop or to affect a n y r i g h t s to which he would be entitled u n d e r this Act shall be void. 25. 2 5 . T h e clerk or o t h e r officer h a v i n g custody of the r a t e books of a m u n i c i p a l i t y or shire shall allow the clerk of a court of p e t t y sessions to inspect a n d take copies of or e x t r a c t s from such r a t e books, a n d shall not be entitled to charge a n y fees in respect of such inspection, copies, or e x t r a c t s . 2 6 . A n y p e r s o n on t e n d e r i n g the sum of sixpence shall be entitled to obtain from the clerk of the court of p e t t y sessions i n f o r m a t i o n a s to the fair r e n t of a n y dwellinghouse or shop, as fixed by the court. 2 7 . (1) The G o v e r n o r m a y m a k e r e g u l a t i o n s not inconsistent with this Act, p r e s c r i b i n g all m a t t e r s which by this Act a r e r e q u i r e d or p e r m i t t e d to be prescribed or which a r e n e c e s s a r y or convenient to be p r e s c r i b e d in o r d e r to give effect to this Act. (2) W i t h o u t prejudice to the generality of sub section one of this section, the G o v e r n o r m a y m a k e regulations-- (a) r e g u l a t i n g the m a k i n g a n d receipt of applica tions to d e t e r m i n e fair r e n t or to v a r y a n y d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d p r e s c r i b i n g the notices to be given of the same and the m a n n e r in which such notices m a y be g i v e n ; (b) p r e s c r i b i n g the p r o c e d u r e in respect of appli cations to the c o u r t ; (c) p r e s c r i b i n g the f o r m s which m a y be used for the p u r p o s e s of this A c t ; (d) p r e s c r i b i n g the duties a n d p o w e r s of the clerks of courts of p e t t y sessions for the p u r p o s e s of this A c t ; a n d (e) i m p o s i n g penalties not exceeding fifty p o u n d s for a n y breach of the r e g u l a t i o n s . (3) Such r e g u l a t i o n s shall-- (a) be published in the G a z e t t e ; (b) take effect from the d a t e of publication or from a l a t e r date to be specified in such r e g u l a t i o n s ; and (c) be laid before both H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t within fourteen s i t t i n g d a y s after publication if P a r l i a ment is in s e s s i o n ; a n d if not, then within four teen s i t t i n g d a y s after the commencement of the next session. (4) (4) If either House of Parliament passes a resolution of which notice lias been given at any time within fifteen sitting days after such regulations have been laid before such House disallowing any regulation or part thereof, such regulation or part shall thereupon cease to have effect. 2 8 . Any penalty imposed by this Act or the regulations may be recovered in a summary manner before a stipendiary or police magistrate or any two justices. 2J). This Act shall continue in force for the duration of the present war between His Majesty and Germany, and for a period of twelve months after the declaration of peace and no longer.