Contributions
728 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is important to point out that the Bill does not cover service charges. In the other areas that we are talking about, ground rent is paid for no discernible benefit in return,…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)My understanding is that consideration has been given and we do not think there is anything, but we need to be prepared should the circumstance arise. That is my understanding of…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)You are very kind, Mr Hollobone. Clause 2 will be of significant interest as it sets out those leases not regulated by the Bill. We have taken care to tightly define these, as we…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Clause 3 prohibits a landlord from requiring a leaseholder to make a payment of a prohibited rent. Subsection (2) defines that as making a request that the leaseholder make the…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I am worried that my candid responses to questions are going to get me in trouble, but the honest answer is that I do not know what the limitation is. I will write to the hon.…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)We must ensure that the breaches of prohibited rent that I set out in clause 3 are acted on. Clause 9 will place a duty on local weights and measures authorities in England and…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Elliott. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cities of London and Westminster for her contribution, and also the Opposition…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I strongly suspect, however, that the very clever team behind me will provide the answer, and that I will be able to inform the hon. Lady during discussions on a subsequent clause.07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Clause 4 introduces the general rule for regulated leases that the permitted rent is an annual rent of one peppercorn. The effect of that is that no monetary rent will be payable…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The Bill will help to ensure that new long leases granted subsequent to the Bill’s coming into force are set at a peppercorn rate—so, with no financial value associated with them.07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)The Bill will allow enforcement authorities to act on unfair practices against leaseholders. Clause 10 enables an enforcement authority to impose a financial penalty on a landlord…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The hon. Lady is quite right. The intended purpose of the Bill, very tightly drafted as it is, is to ensure that we draw a line in the sand by ensuring that new leases in the…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)As I said in my speech, the law is complex and there are interdependencies between various Acts. The provision makes sure that there is nothing that we have missed in terms of…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The hon. Member for Garston and Halewood referred to my previous interest in this subject as a Back-Bench MP. It is an incredible privilege to have championed changes in this area…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)I have two points. The hon. Member for Weaver Vale and I will be aligned in hoping that people decide to fine those who commit multiple breaches at the higher rather than the…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is above my pay grade to make those sorts of decisions, but I will be working very closely—07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)I can only say again that we do not know the answer to that, otherwise we would obviously have made the necessary amendment at this point.07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Perhaps one day they will make me Secretary of State and I will be able to make those decisions myself, Mr Hollobone—don’t laugh. As I said, it is our intention to come forward…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)As I referred to in the discussions about previous clauses, I believe that the legislation will apply once it has been enacted following Royal Assent, so it will apply to new…07 Dec 2021HANSARDLeasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill [Lords] (Second sitting)Clause 13 makes various supplementary provisions in relation to enforcement authorities. Importantly, it requires them to have regard to any guidance that may be issued by the…07 Dec 2021