Medonza v. De Silva – sllr 1985 volume 1 page 044

In the case between Medonza (landlord) and De Silva (tenant), the court addressed whether the increased “receivable rent” determined by the Rent Board under the Rent Act is payable retroactively from the Act’s commencement (1 March 1972) or only from the Rent Board’s determination date (1 March 1976), and whether the tenant is entitled to statutory relief for the arrears. It was held that the receivable rent fixed by the Rent Board is retrospectively payable from 1 March 1972, not just prospectively from the date of the Board’s order. The principle reaffirmed is that statutory rent increases, as per section 7 of the Rent Act, apply from the Act’s effective date notwithstanding a later administrative determination. The decision relied on interpretation of the Rent Act and its procedural pro