Abstract

The Association of London Housing Estates and the (Fair Rent' Issue JOHN HAYES* HE Housing Finance Act 1972 marked a watershed in the history of the Association of London Housing Estates. The bill was preceded in London by a period of discontent on the council estates due to the rent increases imposed by the new Conservative Greater London Council of 1967. The threat of a further rent increase involved in the new measure led the membership of the Association to close ranks. The effect of the policy adopted by the government was to increase the membership, in terms of estates affiliated to the Association, from 91 in 1969 to 200 in 1974. The objectives of the Act were far-reaching and radical. They were to bring order into the chaotic structure of housing subsidies, to extend the principle of subsidies to privately rented unfurnished accommodation and to achieve a greater degree of fairness between people living in different kinds of housing. Before 1972 local authorities were free to set rent levels as they saw fit, provided only that the rents were reasonable.! For example, local authorities could decide whether or not to make a contribution from their general rate fund