Short title
1.
This Act may be cited as the Tenantries Freehold Purchase Act.
Definitions
2.
In this Act,
“landlord” includes the Crown and any statutory board in which a tenantry is vested;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Lands;
“plantation tenantry” means a tenantry specified in the First Schedule but exclusive of any land thereof that adjoins the foreshore;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Titles; [1989-14]
“tenant” means an individual who occupies a lot comprised in a tenantry pursuant to a tenancy, whether that tenancy exists by virtue of a lease, contract or licence and either at law or in equity;
“tenantry” means
(a)
a plantation tenantry; and
(b)
an area of land that is subdivided, before or after 1st November, 1980, into more than 5 lots for letting as sites for chattel buildings to be used as dwelling houses whether the land is vested in the Crown, in a statutory board or in any other person, but does not include land adjoining the foreshore.
[1989-14]
Purpose and construction
3.(1)
The purpose of this Act is to establish by law a right for tenants of lots in tenantries who satisfy the requirements of this Act to purchase the freehold at a purchase price governed by considerations of public policy and the requirements of the
Constitution.
(2)
This Act shall receive such fair, large and liberal construction and interpretation as will best ensure the attainment of its purposes.
PART I
Purchase of Freehold
Right to purchase freehold
4.(1)
Notwithstanding any other law or any term or condition of any lease, contract or licence relating to a tenancy, it is a term or condition of every tenancy within a plantation tenantry or other tenantry that the tenant, as of right and at his option may, if he is a qualified tenant, purchase the freehold of the lot of which he is a tenant at a price to be determined
(a)
in the case of a lot within a plantation tenantry, in accordance with Part I of the
Second Schedule or by agreement between the parties, whichever is the smaller amount; or
(b)
in the case of a lot within any other tenantry, in accordance with Part II of the
Second Schedule, by agreement between the parties, or as specified in an improvement scheme within the meaning of the
Tenantries Development Act, Cap. 239A, whichever is the smaller amount.
(2)
Subject to section 36, a qualified tenant of a lot is a tenant
(a)
who, at 1st November, 1980, is residing on the lot and has been so residing
(i)
for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding that day, or
(ii)
for 5 years out of the 7 years immediately preceding that day; or
(b)
who, at any particular time after 1st November, 1980, is a tenant who has, at that particular time,
(i)
been residing on the lot for 5 consecutive years, or
(ii)
been residing on the lot for 5 out of the immediately preceding 7 years.
(3)
Subject to section 26 where at any particular time after the 1st November, 1980, a sub-tenant who, at that particular time,
(a)
has been residing on the lot of a tenant for 5 consecutive years in the absence of the tenant or in the absence of the spouse, child, brother, sister or parent of the tenant; or
(b)
has been residing on the lot of a tenant for 5 out of the immediately preceding 7 years in the absence of the tenant or in the absence of the spouse, child, brother, sister or parent of the tenant
and in respect of that lot,
(c)
the tenant is not a qualified tenant within the meaning of the Act; and
(d)
the sub-tenant has paid rent to the landlord in the name of the tenant or to the tenant,
the sub-tenant is a qualified tenant of the lot on which he resides; and shall have all the rights granted to a qualified tenant under this Act.
[1989-14]
(4)
A tenant or sub-tenant, as the case may be, resides on a lot if he uses it as
(a)
his own habitation; or
(b)
a habitation for his spouse, child, brother, sister or parent, whether or not the tenant or sub-tenant, as the case may be, uses it as his habitation at the same time,
notwithstanding occasional absences from the lot for the purpose of any work undertaken or sought within or outside Barbados.
[1989-14]
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (4), “spouse” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Succession Act, Cap. 249. [1989-14]
Modification of right to purchase
5.(1)
A tenant who, immediately before the 1st February, 1990
(a)
was residing on a lot forming part of an area of land within the meaning of subsection (3)(a); and
(b)
was a qualified tenant of the lot referred to in paragraph (a),
ceases on the 1st February, 1990 to be a qualified tenant in respect of that lot.
(2)
Notwithstanding subsection (1), a tenant referred to in that subsection remains a qualified tenant where,
(a)
at the 1st February, 1990, he had exercised his right to purchase the freehold of the lot of which he is tenant in accordance with
section 10(1) and his landlord had not refused to comply with
section 10(2); or
(b)
at the 1st February, 1990, he had carried out substantial improvements to the lot in respect of which he had a right to purchase under
section 4(1).
(3)
In this section,
(a)
“area of land” means an area that was sub-divided whether before or after 1st November, 1980 into not more than five lots as sites for chattel buildings to be used for dwelling houses, whether the land is vested in the Crown, a statutory board or in any other person, but excluding land adjoining the foreshore;
(b)
“substantial improvements” means the construction in stone, brick or concrete, of a dwelling-house or part of a dwelling-house and includes the construction of water borne toilet facilities.
Compensation
6.(1)
Subject to subsection (2), a tenant referred to in
section 5, not being a tenant referred to in subsection (2) of that section, has the right to purchase from the Crown a suitable lot at a purchase price to be determined by agreement between the Crown and the tenant.
(2)
The purchase price referred to in subsection (1) shall be no higher than the open market price of the lot on which the tenant referred to in that subsection was residing prior to the 1st February, 1990.
(3)
Notwithstanding subsection (2), in determining the open market price referred to in that subsection, no account shall be taken of any enhancement of the value of the land arising from any development that has been undertaken on the area of land referred to in paragraph (a) of section 5(3) by a person other than the landlord prior to the 1st February, 1990.
(4)
A tenant referred to in section 5(1) must notify the Minister in writing within 2 years of the 1st February, 1990 of his intention to exercise his right to purchase the freehold of a lot from the Crown pursuant to subsection (1).
(5)
Where the Crown is unable to provide a suitable lot as required under subsection (1), the tenant referred to in that subsection shall be paid by the Crown an amount of money that fairly represents the value of the right to purchase the freehold of the lot of which he was a qualified tenant prior to the 1st February, 1990.
(6)
Where a tenant referred to in section 5(1) fails to notify the Minister in accordance with subsection (4), the right of that tenant to purchase a suitable lot from the Crown pursuant to subsection (1) ceases; but the tenant is entitled to be compensated in the manner specified in subsection (5) as if he were a tenant to which that subsection refers.
(7)
The value of the right of a tenant to purchase the freehold of the lot of which he was a qualified tenant prior to the 1st February, 1990 is,
(a)
in any case where the tenant referred to in
section 5(1) had not exercised his right to purchase the freehold of that lot before the 1st February, 1990, an amount of money which represents the difference in value between the open market price of that lot on the date on which he became a qualified tenant and the open market price of that lot on the 1st February, 1990; or
(b)
in any case where the tenant referred to in
section 5(1) had exercised his right to purchase before the 1st February, 1990, such amount of money as fairly represents the difference in value between the open market price of the lot on the date in respect of which he became a qualified tenant; and
(i)
the open market price of the lot on the date he notifies the Minister pursuant to subsection (4); or
(ii)
where the tenant has failed to notify the Minister pursuant to subsection (4), the open market price of the lot on the 1st February, 1990,
together with all reasonable expenses incurred by him that are reasonably incidental to the exercise of that right.
(8)
In determining whether a lot is suitable within the meaning of section 6 (1) account shall be taken of
(a)
the open market price of the lot on which the tenant referred to in that section was residing prior to the 1st February, 1990;
(b)
the location of the lot as compared to the location of the lot of which he was a tenant prior to the 1st February, 1990, having regard to all the circumstances of the tenant and his immediate family; and
(c)
the services and the amenities available to the tenant in respect of the lot compared to those services and amenities to which the tenant had access in respect of the lot on which he was residing prior to the 1st February, 1990.
No determination of tenancy within 5 years
7.(1)
Subject to subsection (2), no tenant referred to in
section 5(1) shall have his contract of tenancy determined by his landlord within a period of 5 years from the 1st February, 1990.
(2)
Subject to any agreement made between the landlord and the tenant to the contrary, where after a period of 5 years from the 1st February, 1990 a tenant referred to in section 5(1) is still residing on the lot in respect of which he was a qualified tenant prior to the 1st February, 1990, the contract of tenancy between the tenant and his landlord determines.
(3)
On the determination of a contract of tenancy pursuant to subsection (2) the Crown shall offer to the tenant referred to in subsection (2) a contract of tenancy on such terms and conditions as are no less favourable than those that existed in respect of the tenancy referred to in that subsection.
(5)
The rent exigible by a landlord immediately before the 1st February, 1990 in respect of a lot of a tenant referred to in section 5(1) shall not, after that date, be increased except in accordance with subsection (6).
(6)
After the 1st February, 1990, a landlord who desires to increase the rent of a lot on which a tenant referred to in section 5(1) resides shall apply to the magistrate exercising jurisdiction under paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 4 of the Magistrates Jurisdiction and Procedure Act, Cap. 116 in the magisterial district in which the area of land or part thereof in respect of which the application is made, is situated; and the magistrate shall determine such increase in accordance with the Tenantries (Control and Development) Regulations, 1974. [1974/187]
(7)
A landlord who demands or receives any rent in excess of the rent that is permissible under subsection (5) or (6) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of $200 or to imprisonment for a term of 6 months.
Tenants of lots for 20 years or more
8.
Notwithstanding
section 5(1), where a tenant referred to in
section 7 was residing on a lot for a period of 20 years or more at the 1st of February, 1990, that tenant shall, from 9th August, 2001, be regarded as a qualified tenant of that lot for the purposes of this Act.
Relocation expenses
9.
Where by virtue of the provisions of this Act the dwelling house of a tenant referred to in
section 5(1) has to be relocated, the Crown shall relocate the dwelling house and shall pay the expenses reasonably incurred in respect of the relocation.
Exercise of right to purchase freehold
10.(1)
Subject to
sections 19 and
25, a qualified tenant may exercise his right to purchase the freehold of the lot of which he is the tenant by giving notice to the landlord, in accordance with this Part, of his intention to do so.
(2)
The tenant referred to in subsection (1) must forward two copies of the notice referred to in that subsection to the Minister within 7 days of the date on which the notice was given to the landlord. [1989-14]
(3)
The Minister shall retain one copy of the notice referred to in subsection (2), stamp the other as having been received by him, and return the stamped copy to the tenant. [1989-14]
(4)
No conveyance shall be registered or recorded within the meaning of the Property Transfer Tax Act, Cap. 84A unless the copy of the notice given to the tenant pursuant to subsection (3) is produced at the time the conveyance is presented for registration. [1989-14]
(5)
When a qualified tenant gives his landlord notice under subsection (1), it becomes the duty of the landlord to convey the freehold of the lot to the tenant at a price to be determined pursuant to section 4(1). [2001-19]
(6)
In carrying out that duty the landlord shall
(i)
cause the lot to be surveyed;
(ii)
cause the conveyance to be prepared;
(iii)
forthwith thereafter give written notice to the tenant that he is ready to convey the freehold of the lot.
[2001-19]
(7)
The tenant shall pay the purchase price in full in money at the time of the conveyance unless other arrangements are agreed upon by the landlord and the tenant for the payment of the purchase price. [2001-19]
Time limit for exercise of right
10A.(1)
A person who is a qualified tenant of a lot at 9th August, 2001 and who has exercised the right conferred on him by this Act shall complete the purchase of the lot within a period of 5 years from the date of the receipt of the notice referred to in
section 10(6).
(2)
A person who becomes a qualified tenant after 9th August, 2001 and has exercised the right conferred on him by this Act shall complete the purchase of the lot within a period of 3 years from the date of the exercise of that right.
Failure to exercise right
10B.(1)
Where a qualified tenant fails or refuses to complete the purchase of the freehold of the lot of which he is the tenant within the time specified in
section 10A, then the right of the tenant to purchase ceases.
(2)
Subject to subsection (3), where the right of a qualified tenant ceases under subsection (1), the contract of tenancy between the tenant and his landlord continues subject to section 6 of the Tenantries Control Act, Cap. 239, unless determined by law.
(3)
Where the right of a qualified tenant to purchase ceases pursuant to subsection (1), and the tenant had carried out substantial improvements to the lot before the cessation of that right, the landlord may apply to the magistrate’s court under section 7(6) for an increase in rent to reflect the improved value and current market rates of the property in accordance with the Tenantries (Control and Development) Regulations, 1974. [1974/187]
Attorney for absentee landlord
11.(1)
The landlord of a tenantry who does not reside in Barbados shall, before 1st December, 1980, appoint an attorney within Barbados with power to dispose of lots within that tenantry to qualified tenants in accordance with this Act.
(2)
If an attorney appointed under subsection (1) dies or becomes incapacitated, the landlord shall appoint another such attorney within 6 months after the death or incapacity of the earlier appointed attorney.
Notice to exercise rights
12.(1)
Where a qualified tenant wishes to exercise his right under this Part, he shall give notice to the landlord or his attorney and the Minister in the Form I set out in the
Third Schedule.
[1989-14]
(2)
Where
(a)
no attorney is appointed as required by
section 11;
(c)
the landlord cannot be found or his identity cannot be ascertained,
a notice in the Form II as set out in the Third Schedule shall be deposited with the Registrar. [1989-14]
(3)
Where
(a)
the landlord of a qualified tenant within the meaning of
sections 4(2),
4(3),
5(2) and
8 cannot be found or the identity of the landlord cannot be ascertained; and
(b)
the tenant referred to under paragraph (a) has given notice of his wish to exercise his right under this Part in the Form II pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (2),
the Registrar shall, notwithstanding the fact that no rent has been paid by the tenant as a result of the inability of the tenant to find or ascertain the identity of the landlord, proceed under section 13(1) to give the tenant a good title in accordance with this Act. [2001-19]
Registrar’s powers
13.(1)
Where a qualified tenant is unable to exercise his right to purchase the freehold of his lot because
(a)
no attorney is appointed as required by
section 11;
(c)
the landlord cannot be found or his identity cannot be ascertained,
and the tenant has deposited a notice with the Registrar, the Registrar shall do all such things as are necessary to give that tenant a good title in accordance with this Act.
[1989-14]
(2)
In the exercise of his powers under subsection (1) the Registrar may demand from the mortgagor, mortgagee or other person having possession thereof the title deeds, plots and plans of a tenantry or of a lot comprised therein.
(3)
The Registrar may examine on oath any person referred to in subsection (2) in connection with the possession of such deeds, plots and plans.
(4)
Where a person refuses to deliver any such deeds, plots or plans to the Registrar or to answer any question put to him by the Registrar, the Registrar shall report such refusal to the High Court and the High Court may commit that person for contempt until such delivery is made or answer given.
(5)
No action lies against the Registrar or any other officer of the Land Registry for anything done by any of them in good faith in the performance of their duties under this Act. [1989-14]
Payment to the Registrar
14.
A qualified tenant shall pay the purchase price for the freehold of his lot to the Registrar
(a)
where the Registrar makes a conveyance to him in accordance with
section 13; or
(b)
if, before a conveyance is otherwise made to him, written notice is given to him
(i)
that the landlord or a person entitled to the benefit of a charge so requires to protect the rights of any person entitled to the benefit of such a charge or for purposes related to the bankruptcy or winding-up of the landlord, or
(ii)
that action to enforce a charge on the landlord’s interest in the tenantry in which the lot is situated has been taken by proceedings in court or by the appointment of a receiver or otherwise.
Disposal of money paid into court
15.(1)
Where money is paid to the Registrar in accordance with this Act, the money shall be held by the Registrar until the person claiming it or any part thereof proves his right to receive that money to the satisfaction of the Registrar.
(2)
Where a claim in respect of a claimant’s right to receive money under subsection (1) is disputed by the Registrar, the claim shall be determined by a Judge of the High Court on the application of the claimant.
Form of conveyance
16.
A conveyance of freehold under this Part must be made in the form set out in the
Fourth Schedule or as near thereto as circumstances admit, and the fact that it has been made pursuant to this section shall be specified in the conveyance.
Effect of conveyance
17.(1)
Notwithstanding the
Property Act, Cap. 236 or any other enactment, a conveyance of freehold of a lot made pursuant to this Part
(a)
vests in the purchaser a good and marketable title for a fee simple absolute estate in the lot free of all encumbrances; and
(b)
except as stipulated in the conveyance, discharges the interest specified in the conveyance from all estates, rights, interests, liens and encumbrances of all persons including the Crown.
[1989-14]
(2)
Subsection (1) does not affect the common law relating to easements of necessity. [1989-14]
Discharge of mortgages
18.(1)
A conveyance of a freehold in a lot made pursuant to this Part
(a)
discharges the lot so conveyed from any charge on the estate of the landlord from whom the lot was conveyed; and
(b)
prevents the operation of any order made by a court for the enforcement of any charge on the estate of the landlord by whom the lot was conveyed,
notwithstanding that the persons who are entitled to or interested in the charge on the estate of the landlord or any order of court enforcing the charge have not executed or been made party to the execution of the conveyance.
(2)
Notwithstanding the discharge of a lot conveyed pursuant to this Part from a charge on the estate of the landlord from whom the lot was conveyed, the discharge does not affect any right or remedy for the enforcement of that charge against other property of the landlord to which the charge relates nor does it affect any personal liability for any debt or other obligation of the landlord or other person to which the charge relates.
(3)
In this section “charge” means any encumbrance on the landlord’s estate in property to secure the payment of money or the performance of any other obligation by the landlord or any other person but does not include an encumbrance to which a conveyance of a lot pursuant to this Part is required to be made subject or that would be overreached apart from this section.
Tenantry held by mortgagee
19.(1)
When the interest of a landlord in a tenantry is subject to a mortgage and the mortgagee is in possession of that tenantry, the qualified tenant of a lot within the tenantry may proceed to exercise his right to purchase the freehold of the lot by treating the mortgagee in possession as the landlord for all the purposes of this Act; and the mortgagee in possession is bound to do all the things required of the landlord of the tenantry in those circumstances.
(2)
The conveyance of a lot that is required to be made pursuant to this Act in the circumstances described in subsection (1) shall be executed by the landlord of the tenantry on the direction of the mortgagee in possession or by that mortgagee in the name and on behalf of the landlord; and the conveyance is valid in either event.
(3)
This section does not affect the operation of sections 17 and 18 in relation to the mortgage under which the mortgagee is in possession.
Public policy protection
20.
An agreement, whenever or however made, between a landlord and a tenant of a lot within a tenantry that purports
(a)
to exclude or modify any right to purchase the freehold in that lot;
(b)
to provide for the termination or surrender of the tenancy in that lot in the event the tenant acquires or claims any right to purchase the freehold in the lot; or
(c)
to impose any penalty or disability on the tenant in the event mentioned in paragraph (b),
is against public policy and void.
Restriction on disposition
21.(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who purchases the freehold of a lot pursuant to this Part shall not dispose of that lot by sale until the expiration of a period of 5 years from the date of his purchase of the lot.
(2)
A person described in subsection (1) may apply to a magistrate for permission to sell the lot within the period limited by that subsection; and the magistrate may authorise the sale of the lot if he is satisfied that the transaction is in good faith and that undue hardship will enure to the applicant if he cannot sell the lot.
(3)
Notwithstanding subsection (1), the owner of the lot may, at any time but subject to subsection (4), resell it to the landlord from whom it was purchased at a price to be agreed by them that is no less than the purchase price paid by him to the landlord plus the costs of any improvements made by him to the lot since its purchase by him.
(4)
Before offering to resell a lot under subsection (3) to a former landlord, the owner of the lot must first offer to sell it to the National Housing Corporation at a price equal to the minimum price prescribed by subsection (3).
(4A)
Where a Government subsidy has been paid in respect of the purchase price of a lot referred to in paragraph 1 of Part II of the Second Schedule, that lot shall not be resold without the owner of the lot first offering it to the National Housing Corporation for sale at a price that is no more than the price paid for the lot plus the costs of any improvements made by the owner to the lot since its purchase by him. [2001-19]
(5)
Where the freehold of a lot purchased pursuant to this Part is mortgaged, the lot may not be sold within the period limited by subsection (1) to enforce the mortgage unless a magistrate certifies that he is satisfied that the mortgage and sale do not constitute an arrangement to evade the requirements of subsection (1), (3) or (4).
PART II
Purchase Assistance
Purchase loans
22.(1)
With the approval of the Minister responsible for Finance, the Minister may establish a loan scheme to enable qualified tenants to borrow money to purchase the freehold of their lots in accordance with Part I, or to enable persons who have purchased the freehold of their lots to borrow money to make improvements thereto.
(2)
A loan scheme established under this section shall be administered by the Barbados National Bank Inc. on behalf of the National Housing Corporation as the Minister may direct. [2000-24]
Registration of loans
23.
Notwithstanding section 96 of the
Property Act, Cap. 236 and section 70 of the
Land Registration Act, Cap. 229, a loan made pursuant to a scheme established under
section 22 must be recorded in the Registry or the Land Registry and, when so recorded, has the effect of transferring to the National Housing Corporation, until the loan is repaid, all the rights, in accordance with the
Property Act or the
Land Registration Act, as the case may be, of the mortgagor, his assigns and successors in the lot in respect of which the loan was made.
Funding of loans
24.
The money for a loan scheme established under
section 22 may be paid out of funds voted for the purpose by Parliament and from the funds at the disposal of the National Housing Corporation or the Barbados National Bank Inc.
Restrictions on right to purchase
25.(1)
The right of a qualified tenant to purchase the freehold of a lot may not be exercised by him when the Chief Town Planner certifies, on the application of the landlord of the tenantry or the Minister, that the lot is unsuitable for purchase because of its location in relation to other lots or for any other reason.
(2)
The right of a qualified tenant to purchase the freehold of a lot may not be exercised by him if the Minister, by notice published once in the Official Gazette and once, on a weekday, in each of the newspapers published in Barbados, declares that the lot or the tenantry in which the lot is situated is required for public purposes by the Crown or a statutory board.
Nature of right to purchase
26.
A right under this Act to purchase the freehold of a lot within a tenantry is an overriding interest within the meaning of section 31 of the
Land Registration Act, Cap. 229, and is not required to be registered under the
Property Act, Cap. 236.
Burdens on freehold
27.
Burdens in respect of the upkeep or regulation, for the benefit of any locality, of any land, structures, works, ways or watercourses are not encumbrances for the purposes of
sections 17 and
18 but any instrument of conveyance executed to give effect to this Part in the case of a lot must be made subject to any such burden upon the tenantry in which the lot is situated.
Valuable consideration
28.
Where no payment or only a nominal payment is required by a landlord from a tenant as the purchase price of a freehold in a lot, the tenant is for all purposes of law a purchaser of that freehold for valuable consideration in money or money’s worth.
Arbitrator
29.(1)
Any dispute relating to
(a)
the interest of a tenant or a sub-tenant in, or the right of a tenant or sub-tenant over, a lot;
(b)
the amount of compensation payable to a tenant; or
(c)
any other matter arising under this Act
(2)
The members of a Small Holdings Committee when acting as arbitrator for the purposes of the Act shall be paid such allowances as are approved by the Minister of Agriculture out of moneys voted therefor by Parliament.
Arbitration procedures
30.(1)
The
Arbitration Act, Cap. 110 applies, to the extent that the provisions of that Act do not conflict with the provisions of this Part, to all arbitrations by an arbitrator under this Part as if every licence, contract or lease under which a tenantry in a lot is held within a tenantry contained an arbitration agreement referring disputes concerning the tenancy to the appropriate Small Holdings Committee as a single arbitrator.
[1989-14]
(2)
Where a matter is referred to the arbitrator under this Part, the reference shall be made in writing but no special form of petition or reference is required.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything in any other enactment, the arbitrator is not bound by any technical rules of evidence in conducting an arbitration for the purposes of this Part; and all arbitrations must be dealt with by the arbitrator as informally and as expeditiously as the circumstances and consideration of fairness admit.
Right of appeal
31.(1)
An appeal lies to the Supreme Court of Judicature from
(a)
an award of an arbitrator under the Act; or
(b)
a decision of a magistrate or Judge under this Part.
(2)
An appeal referred to in subsection (1) may be brought by any person having an interest in any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection.
Fees
32.
Notwithstanding any other law, the Cabinet may, by regulations,
(a)
fix the fees for all matters relating to the conveyance of freeholds under this Part;
(b)
fix such other fees as may be required for the purposes of any award by an arbitrator or any appeal to the High Court; and
(c)
fix the fees for all matters required to be registered under this Act.
Powers of Minister
33.
The Minister may,
(b)
by order, amend the First, Third and Fourth Schedules.
Relocation of tenants
34.(1)
Where, on the application of the landlord of a lot within a tenantry, the Chief Town Planner certifies for the purposes of Part I that the lot is unsuitable for purchase of the freehold therein, the tenant may remain on the lot as a tenant; but, if the tenant so desires, the landlord shall relocate the tenant on any other lot suitable for purchase of the freehold within the tenantry.
(2)
When there is no other lot available within the tenantry that is suitable for purchase of the freehold, the landlord may offer to relocate the tenant mentioned in subsection (1) on any available lot within another tenantry that is suitable for the purchase of the freehold therein, in lieu of relocating him as required under subsection (1).
(3)
No tenant relocated pursuant to subsection (2) acquires by virtue of this section any preferential right over the existing tenants in another tenantry who require to be located within that tenantry.
Relocation by Minister
35.(1)
Where in the circumstances described in
section 34 the landlord of a lot unsuitable for purchase as a freehold is the Crown, then, if the Minister is required to relocate the tenant on another lot suitable for purchase of the freehold within a tenantry not held by the Crown, the Minister may acquire that other lot under the
Land Acquisition Act, Cap. 228 or otherwise as the case requires.
(2)
Notwithstanding anything in the Land Acquisition Act, the Minister shall not pay a greater price for the other lot acquired for the purposes of section 34 than that determined under the Second Schedule for the lot.
Relocated tenants
36.(1)
Where a tenant has been relocated under
section 34 or
35 from a lot within a tenantry to another lot within that tenantry or another tenantry and he desires to purchase that lot, the period of time during which he was a tenant on the lot from which he was relocated counts as time to determine whether he is a qualified tenant for the purposes of
section 4(2).
(2)
Where before 1st November, 1980 a tenant of a lot within a tenantry is relocated by the landlord to another lot in the same tenantry or another tenantry, the period of time during which he was a tenant on the lot from which he was relocated counts as time to determine whether he is a qualified tenant, for the purposes of section 4(2), to purchase the lot to which he is relocated.
Offences
37.
A person who
(a)
contravenes this Act; or
(b)
assaults, obstructs or interferes with any person acting or purporting to act under this Act
is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1 000 or imprisonment for 6 months or to both.
Application of Cap. 240
38.
Notwithstanding anything therein contained, the Town and Country Planning Act has application to this Act only where it is so expressed by this Act.
Regulations
39.
The Minister may make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to this Act.
Amendment by order
39A.
The Minister may by order amend any of the Schedules.
Binding on the Crown
40.
This Act binds the Crown.
41.
To prevent uncertainty, section 16 of the
Constitution is altered by this Act to any extent necessary to ensure the constitutionality of this Act.
