Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

17.   Permitted increases in rent

The amounts by which the rent of any premises to which this Act applies may exceed the standard rent shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be—

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   (a)     where the lessor has since the prescribed date incurred or hereafter incurs expenditure on the improvement or structural alteration of the dwelling-house (not including expenditure on decoration or repairs) an amount calculated at a rate per annum not exceeding 8% of the amount so expended.

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   However, the lessee may apply to the Board for an order suspending or reducing such increase on the ground that such expenditure is or was unnecessary in whole or in part, and the Board may make an order accordingly;

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      (b)     an amount not exceeding any increase in the amount payable by the lessor in respect of rates and taxes over the corresponding amount paid in respect of the yearly, half yearly or other period which included the prescribed date, or in the case of a dwelling house for which no rates and taxes were payable in respect of any period which included the said date, the period which included the date on which the rates or taxes first become payable thereafter;

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      (c)     an amount sanctioned by the Board on the application of the lessor, where the lessor has incurred expenditure in effecting substantial improvements to the amenities of the premises, or substantial improvements in the locality from which the lessee derives benefit, not being improvements for necessary maintenance or drainage;

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      (d)     in addition to any such amount as aforesaid—

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         (i)     where the lessor is responsible for the whole of the repairs to a dwelling house, an amount not exceeding 25% of the standard rent, or

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         (ii)     where the lessor is responsible for part and not the whole of the repairs, such lesser amount as may, be agreed, or as may, on the application of the lessor or the lessee, be determined by the Board to be fair and reasonable having regard to such liability.

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   (2)   At any time or times not being less than 3 months after the date of any increase permitted by paragraph (d) of the foregoing subsection, the lessee or the sanitary authority may apply to the Board for an order suspending such increase, on the ground that the house is not in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation, or is otherwise not in a reasonable state of repair.

The Board on being satisfied by the production of a certificate of the sanitary authority or otherwise that any such ground as aforesaid is established, and on being further satisfied that the condition of the house is not due to the lessees neglect or default or breach of express agreement, shall order that the increase be suspended until the Board is satisfied, on the report of the sanitary authority or otherwise, that the necessary repairs (other than the repairs, if any, for which the lessee is liable) have been executed, and in the making of such order the increase shall cease to have effect until the Board is so satisfied.