Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. When making the case for new clause 2, which sought to ensure that all leases on new flats should include a requirement to…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Tenth sitting)That was a slightly frustrating response from the Minister. I had hoped for a little more. I am glad that he thinks the new clause is well intentioned and sympathises with some of…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Tenth sitting)I am disappointed by that response from the Minister, as he would expect. We very much agree that the Bill is moving in the right direction, but we do not think it goes far enough…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Ninth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention; it is a habit that I hope he continues because I think there is common ground here. When it comes to common adoptable standards,…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Ninth sitting)I rise briefly to support the argument made by the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire. There is a specific problem on privately managed estates, which I referred to when…30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Tenth sitting)I rise to say simply that the Opposition welcome this group of Government new clauses.30 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 11, in clause 27, page 43, leave out line 12. This amendment would remove provision for the appropriate authority to exempt certain categories of landlord…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Seventh sitting)I rise to speak to the amendments in my name and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Weaver Vale. I do so making almost entirely the same argument as that made by my hon. Friend…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I thought that the Minister would provide a fuller response to our intention to remove the clause and introduce new clause 3. The hon. Member for Redditch is right to be concerned…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I must disappoint the Minister, because what he says does not reassure me. I rise to oppose clause 34 standing part of the Bill, and to argue in favour of new clause 3. As he has…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)As the Minister has just made clear, clause 33 amends the 2002 Act to create a new duty on landlords to publish administration charge schedules. We welcome it but, as with clauses…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I will be fairly brief, because my hon. Friend covered a lot of detail. He is right to do so, because these are important clauses. We welcome the intent behind them, and we think…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)It is operational. It can be absorbed on the rare occasion that it will be charged, so we think that amount should be higher. Ultimately, as the hon. Member for North East…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)The Minister’s response was quite disappointing. I think he has made it clear that it is per challenge per group, so what is the incentive for a large group of leaseholders to…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I take the point, and I understand what the hon. Gentleman is driving at: there is the very real risk of clogging up the system with multiple challenges if leaseholders are…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)To clarify whether my reading of proposed new section 25A(5) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 is right, is the penalty a single amount that is shared, or an amount per…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)Amendments 17 and 18 address our remaining main two concerns about the clause. The first concern, to which we will return when we consider penalties in relation to part 4 of the…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 17, in clause 30, page 49, line 30, leave out “£5,000” and insert “£30,000”. This amendment would raise the cap on penalties under this section (see…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)Briefly, I welcome what the Minister said on the issue of damages versus penalties. It could be another word than “penalty”, but I hope the point that the amendment tried to make…25 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Eighth sitting)Clause 30 substitutes existing section 25 of the 1985 Act, which includes penal provisions dealing with any failure to comply with the relevant provisions, with proposed new…25 Jan 2024