An 11th hour appeal to help householders already reeling from land tax increases went unheeded as new legislation brought many homes under rent control for the first time.

Opposition MPs urged Government to rethink rent control changes, saying it will heap financial misery on those landlords living on a fixed budget.

But despite UBP pleas, the PLP passed the Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Amendment Act 1999 in the House of Assembly late Friday night.

The bill will bring an extra several thousand rental units under rent control -- taking the country total from 40 to 60 percent. It raises the ARV level for control from $9.000 to $16,200.

The Opposition argued the amendments could hurt the elderly, who rely on rents for income, and could tie people up in red tape.

Health and Family Services Minister Nelson Bascome stressed it was just a temporary measure, until a real solution to the housing shortage was found.

He said their real aim was to help bring some of the 500 derelict homes on the Island back into use, without having to encroach on open spaces.

And Government argued it was brought about because of a review of the Annual Rental Values of homes -- which had to be undertaken because the former Government had not conducted one for five years.

ARV hikes have increased land tax bills for many owners of larger properties but have resulted in lower bills for others.

Opposition Finance Minister Grant Gibbons implored the PLP to withdraw the bill, which he said was half-baked.

"This will impact on housing stock. In this small country we know there is a housing crisis but we haven't heard any solutions from that side,'' he said.

He said the move could increase homelessness as many householders would simply take their unit off the market rather than come under rent control and the added paperwork.

And those that didn't would be subsidising their tenants, who may or may not be able to afford a rent agreed between the two.

It would discourage people from building new rental units and would be counter-productive to easing the housing shortage.

Premier Jennifer Smith said they had acted swiftly in bringing forward the legislation to bring some relief to the pressure of the new ARV levels.

And she said they recognised the concern about tenants.

More House coverage on Pages 6,7 and 8 Grant Gibbons