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Committee question leaseholder representatives and MPs in leasehold reform inquiry

5 November 2018

The Housing, Community and Local Government Committee examines leasehold reform with a session providing an overview of the key issues facing the practice and potential for reforms.

According to the most recent figures, there are an estimated 4.2 million leasehold properties in the UK and account for 46% of new-build sales. Some leaseholders have argued that current legislation has failed to adequately protect them from a number of issues, including high and escalating ground rents, excessive costs in extending lease agreements of or buying the freehold and forfeiting properties if terms are breached. There have also been claims of mis-selling, where onerous terms have not been fully apparent to leaseholders.

Purpose of the session

The session will examine the extent and prevalence of such issues in the UK, as well as existing mechanisms to support leaseholders. It will consider the adequacy of Government proposals for reform, as well as ways to extend new protections to existing leaseholders.

Witnesses

Monday 5 November, Committee Room 15, House of Commons

At 4.00pm

Panel one: All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold Reform and Secretariat

  • Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Jim Fitzpatrick MP, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform
  • Martin Boyd, Chair of Trustees, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership

Panel two: Leaseholder representatives

  • Jo Darbyshire and Katie Kendrick, National Leasehold Campaign
  • Shula Rich, Director, Federation of Private Residents' Associations

Further information

Image: iStockphoto