Leasehold Reform — 23 May 2023 at 16:12

That this House notes the commitment by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in January 2023 to abolish the feudal leasehold system which he has acknowledged is an unfair form of property ownership; calls on him to keep his promise to the millions of people living in leasehold properties by ending the sale of new private leasehold houses, introducing a workable system to replace private leasehold flats with commonhold and enacting the Law Commission’s recommendations on enfranchisement, commonhold and the right to manage in full; and further calls on the Secretary of State to make an oral statement to this House by 23 June 2023 on his plans to reform leasehold.

“The Government agrees with the Committee that, other than in exceptional circumstances, there is no good reason for houses to be sold on a leasehold basis.”

“it is absolutely right that we end the absurd, feudal system of leasehold, which restricts people’s rights in a way that is indefensible in the 21st century.”-[Official Report, 9 June 2022; Vol. 715, c. 978.]

“Finally, the hon. Lady asked if we will maintain our commitment to abolish the feudal system of leasehold. We absolutely will. We will bring forward legislation shortly.”-[Official Report, 30 January 2023; Vol. 727, c. 49.]

“We hope, in the forthcoming King’s Speech, to introduce legislation to fundamentally reform the system. Leaseholders, not just in this case but in so many other cases, are held to ransom by freeholders. We need to end this feudal form of tenure and ensure individuals have the right to enjoy their own property fully.”-[Official Report, 20 February 2023; Vol. 728, c. 3.]

“there are any Government Grants or similar for having Solar Panels fitted on our property. We live in a block of flats and are planning to have a new roof fitted next year (money permitting) and wonder if it would be profitable to have Solar Panels fitted at the same time. Due to the expense….we wonder if the Government has or may have any suitable schemes to assist us?”

“an all-you-can-eat buffet of reform”.-[Official Report, 24 January 2022; Vol. 707, c. 796.]

“unfair form of property ownership”.

“easier, faster, fairer and cheaper.”

“What we are discussing today is nothing short of a national scandal. It is the payment protection insurance of the house building industry. Every now and again a sharp practice comes to light which is totally unconscionable and of which every reasonable person would say, “We cannot allow this to continue. Parliament must act.” This is one such occasion.”-[Official Report, 20 December 2016; Vol. 618, c. 1342.]

“ban on the sale of new leasehold homes”.

“I don’t see how we can look the other way while these practically feudal practices persist”.

“end the absurd, feudal system of leasehold, which restricts people’s rights”.-[Official Report, 9 June 2022; Vol. 715, c. 978.]

“we can look the other way while these practically feudal practices persist”,

Debate in Parliament |