Contributions
829 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q So this is not a free market as it stands. Simon Jones: You have choice about the property you buy, but if you buy a leasehold property—18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q In your leasehold update report 2020, you adumbrated numerous complaints and you said: “It is a real concern that homeowners who have entered into a lease are captive consumers…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Mr Boyd, you just spoke about the accounting of funds. At the moment, there is no requirement to show any separation between sinking or reserve funds and the normal service…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Indeed. You nicely lead me to my other question, which concerns something else that was in the 2002 Act but was never brought into effect: the provision that, if the landlord…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q So you would agree that it would be a good provision to insert into the Bill. Mr Martin Boyd: It was a very good provision, yes.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q So you think the Committee should look at that very carefully. Liam Spender: The Bill creates a lot of new areas of complexity, and that is certainly one that would merit…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Mr Spender, I want to ask you about what I find to be one of the more complicated aspects of the Bill: the leaseback arrangements. Nominee purchasers can require a landlord to…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Grand. If I can pursue that area, at the moment, the lease is granted to the demoted freeholder—so they become the head leaseholder, perhaps, and the other leaseholders are now…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q But the specific question I want to probe with you is whether there is any provision in the Bill to require the minority leaseholders who did not enfranchise to pay their…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Ah, “arising in the period”. Gotcha. Amanda Gourlay: Turning to the second part of your question, one of the very big difficulties with the reform of leasehold is that good and…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q If commonhold will not be in the Bill, would you support a principle that all future leasehold flats should have to be sold with a share of the freehold? Katie Kendrick:…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q I apologise because I came in slightly late today, Chair, so I do not know if people have declared their interest. I should say that I am a freeholder; I am not a leaseholder. I…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q And the residents having the right to manage that themselves. Katie Kendrick: Absolutely, yes.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q And that any residents’ association should be able to have the management of the block? Katie Kendrick: Absolutely. If they are saying that commonhold is not ready to rock and…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q I want to ask you about this whole business of people being unable to sell, and, in effect, the interaction between what the Government have tried to tackle in the Building…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)It is awful. Cath Williams: People are at breaking point.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)People have committed suicide, have they not? Cath Williams: People have committed suicide, yes. That is worth noting. They ask for advice. We have never been flat leaseholders;…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q There is a real tension here, is there not? Katie Kendrick: There is.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q You have talked extensively about ground rent and, Ms Derbyshire, your situation with it doubling. We all know the story about the inventor of chess, who asked for a grain of…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)You have been spot on so far.16 Jan 2024