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ments, changes or adaptations which the require
ments of the Land Registry will dictate from time
to time. An example of the matters which the group
is examining, and which will be of particular interest
to some Deputies, is the system of paying for the
services rendered by the Land Registry. I have asked
the group to recommend suitable arrangements for the
introduction of a system of direct payment in cash in
substitution for the existing system of payment by
way of Revenue stamps.
74. Deputies will see, from what I have said, that I am
determined to mould the Land Registry into an
organisation which will be capable of discharging
efficiently and expeditiously the vital service which it is
providing. The job is all the more urgent in the light
of the initial introduction, on the ist January, 1970,
of compulsory registration of title into the counties
of Carlow, Louth and Meath. I hope that it will be
possible to extend compulsory registration to other
areas without undue delay.
The Secretary,
13th March, 1970
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland,
Solicitors' Buildings,
Four Courts,
Dublin 7.
Dear Mr. Plunkett,
I would like to draw your attention to the
question of lettings to Charitable Organisations
by virtue of which the tenant is exempt from
rating by reason of being a Charitable Body. How
ever, the Landlord or Lessor as the case may be is
liable to pay rates based on half the rent received
from the Charitable Organisation and in many
cases this can amount to a very considerable sum
far in excess of what the ordinary rate would be if
the letting or lease was made to an ordinary
tenant. As far as I can ascertain the provisions of
the Poor Rate Act and the Valuation Act passed
in the middle of the 19th Century have not been
repealed in this respect, and while it is true that a
carefully worded covenant can be inserted into
the Tenancy Agreement or Lease whereby the
tenant indemnifies the Landlord against payment
of all rates and taxes whether assessable on the
Landlord or not, nevertheless, the provision of
these Acts seem to be an unnecessary hardship
both on the tenant and the landlord. It could well
be that some of our Colleagues are not conversant
with these provisions and might well leave a client
acting as a Landlord or Lessor in the position
where he would have to meet a considerable sum
for rates, for which the tenant could not be made
liable by reason of being a Charitable Organisa
tion. It might be worth considering the inclusion
of a suitable note in some issue of the
Gazette
and indeed it might also be worth the Council
considering whether
representations should be
made to the Minister to repeal these Sections. It
must be remembered when these Acts were en
acted, rents were very small and bear no relation
whatever to the rents now obtaining.
Yours sincerely,
T. G. McVeagh & Co.
CONVEYANCING COSTS
With reference
to your last Sunday's article,
"Cutting down on solicitors' costs", I would in
vite you to study the following table:
Comparisons of transactions and costs
1.
Sale of antique silver worth £8,000
Leading London auctioneer's com
mission
................................. £800
2.
Sale of ordinary stocks and shares
worth £8,000
Stockbroker's commission
............
£100
3.
Sale of £8,000 house. Solicitor's scale
charges.
(a) if title unregistered
..................
£90
(b) if title registered ........................
£55
4.
Sale of £8,000 house
Estate agent's commission ......
£182 10
0
If you also have any knowledge of (and care to
bear in mind) the respective amounts of both work
and responsibility undertaken by the above pro
fessions, you may perhaps be led to wonder where
any "cutting down" really ought to come.
Alderley Edge.
W. T. Curtis.
BIG CHANGES IN TENANTS'
LEASE RIGHTS
Important changes in the leasehold renewal rights
and purchase rights of certain classes of tenants
were passed recently by the Government.
The Minister for Justice, Mr. Moran, was
given the green light to draw up a Bill implement
ing the changes, and this Bill is expected to come
before the Dail in the next few months.
The changes are regarded as so important by
the Government, however, that they decided to
backdate the Bill (no matter how long it takes to
pass it) to 3rd March 1970. This means that any
benefits extended in the new legislation will apply
to anyone who was a tenant on 3rd March, even
though his tenancy might have expired.
The Bill will deal with the question of extending
leasehold renewal rights and the right of pur
chasing the fee simple to new classes of tenants
The new classes would
include, for
instance,
sporting bodies of various kinds.
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