The Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act 1946 (9 & 10 Geo. 6 c. 34) was legislation enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to extend rent‑control provisions to furnished dwellings.
Long title
An Act to make provision with respect to the rent of houses or parts thereof let at a rent which includes payment for the use of furniture or for services.
Date of royal assent
26 March 1946.
Purpose and context
In the aftermath of the Second World War the United Kingdom faced a severe shortage of private‑sector rental accommodation. Existing rent‑control statutes applied only to unfurnished premises, allowing landlords to charge substantially higher rents for furnished houses and rooms. The Act was introduced to close this loophole and to curb “exorbitant” rents in the furnished rental market, thereby protecting tenants and contributing to post‑war housing stability.
Key provisions
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Rent assessment committees (tribunals) – The Act authorised the Minister of Health (or a representative) to establish rent assessment committees in local districts. These bodies were empowered to determine a maximum permissible rent for each furnished dwelling or part thereof within their jurisdiction.
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Control of rent levels – Once a committee set a rent ceiling, landlords were prohibited from demanding a higher rent for the same premises. The Act also allowed limited rent increases where “reasonable”, subject to committee approval.
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Scope – The legislation covered houses, flats, rooms or other parts of premises let on a “furnished” basis, i.e., where the rent included payment for furniture, fittings, or services such as cleaning.
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Enforcement – Breaches of the rent limits could be prosecuted, and tenants could apply to the committees for redress.
Impact and criticism
The tribunals were criticized for slow procedures and for not retrospectively addressing previously excessive rents. Nonetheless, the Act represented a significant expansion of rent‑control policy into the furnished sector, reflecting the government’s broader post‑war welfare and housing agenda.
Repeal
The Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act 1946 was repealed by section 117 of the Rent Act 1968, which consolidated and replaced earlier rent‑control measures.
Related legislation
- Rent Acts of 1915, 1920, 1939 (unfurnished properties)
- Rent Act 1968 (comprehensive rent‑control framework)
References
- Gower, L. C. B. (July 1946). “Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946”. Modern Law Review, 9(2), 169–172.
- Francis, M. (1997). Ideas and Policies under Labour, 1945–1951: Building a New Britain. Manchester University Press.
- Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 26 March 1946 (royal assent).
The Act is no longer in force.