Contributions
923 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)I am a member of the all-party parliamentary group on leasehold and commonhold reform.18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)Thank you.18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)That is great. Bob and Sue, do you have anything to add to that? Sue Phillips: I just want to flag that one of the distinctions between shared owners and leaseholders is that…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)Q This question is to both witnesses. Are you satisfied with the provisions in the Bill to regulate what is commonly known as the “fleecehold” phenomenon, where what leaseholders…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)Q Good morning. Paula, you also said that ground rents have not been tackled by this Bill; could you elaborate? What changes would you like to see? Ms Paula Higgins: I think that…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Do you have anything else to add, Simon? Simon Jones: Only the transparency obligations that I mentioned. The initial transparency obligations about the annual cost of owning a…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q The CMA—including your good selves—has rightfully highlighted concerns around estate management and some of the charges commonly known as fleecehold. You said you were going to…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q What are the main implications of the Bill for remediating residential buildings? There are some good things in it, Giles. What is missing in it? Giles Grover: There are some…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)Q Would you welcome amendments to the Bill to try to capture that by regulation, by legislation? Paul Broadhead: Yes. Anything that makes it clearer and gives lenders confidence…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Your organisation has said it is disappointed that the Bill does not deal with the regulation of managing and property agents. Can you elaborate on that? What needs to be…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Third sitting)Q That point is very interrelated to this. A considerable number of leaseholders are excluded from provisions to remediate the buildings. An example is people in buildings that…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q One final question. Do you think there should be an amendment to extend the scope of the Building Safety Act, because of the interplay with leaseholders? There are literally…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Thank you.18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Fourth sitting)Q There is provision to strengthen accountability in terms of remediation and freeholders and ensure that there is more accountability for liabilities. Are the provisions strong…18 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q In September, Sheldon Mills, an executive director at the FCA, issued a strong statement: “Insurance firms must now act in leaseholders’ best interests and ensure that their…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Have the Government spoken to you about why they have seemingly rowed back on the direction of travel on commonhold? Professor Hopkins: Since we published our reports in 2020,…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (First sitting)Q Would commonhold being the default position make your job less complex? Amanda Gourlay: In the first few years, it would make it more complex, because I would have to learn…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Keep going. Karolina Zoltaniecka: I would not give up on it; it is well worth waiting for. Harry Scoffin: We need share of freehold in the meantime, at least.16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)In England and Wales? Harry Scoffin: Yes, because people are coining it in and they want to keep it that way. I understand that a political decision was made by No. 10 not to have…16 Jan 2024HANSARDLeasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (Second sitting)Q Given that the Bill does not ban new leasehold flats—70% of leaseholds happen to be flats—is leasehold, the feudal system, still alive and kicking? Harry Scoffin: Completely,…16 Jan 2024