The debate on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill on Monday ended with both housing minister Lee Rowley (above) and his Opposition shadow Matthew Pennycook duelling political points about the Bill, which is their job.
It was the backbench MPs who raised really detailed issues about the scandals in the leasehold sector, and we will report them later.
Mr Pennycook reminded the House that former housing secretary Sajid Javid had promised measures to end “unfair and abusive practices” in leasehold six years ago, and his successor Robert Jenrick announced on 11 January 2021 “seminal two-part legislation to implement leasehold and commonhold reforms in this Parliament”.
Mr Pennycook was lukewarm about the unfailingly under-estimated Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, which has stopped leasehold having a future with new ground rents.
He then referenced that “successive Ministers have made all manner of extravagant promises … Indeed, the current Secretary of State, in an interview with The Sunday Times in January this year, even went so far as to declare, without qualification, that he intended to abolish the leasehold system in its entirety …
“They [Leaseholders] have been badly let down. Having waited so long and had their expectations raised so high, they are understandably disappointed at the limited Bill that we are considering today. And it is a limited Bill, and no amount of bravado from the Secretary of State can alter that fact …”
“The legislation before us has answered one important question: how ambitious do the Government wish to be when it comes to leasehold reform? Because this unambitious piece of legislation makes it clear that proponents of caution and restraint have won out over those who want to lay claim to a legacy of bold reform in this area.
“Labour will have to finish the job and enact all the Law Commission’s recommendations on enfranchisement, right to manage and commonhold in full. We are determined to do so.”
Housing minister Lee Rowley, Mr Gove’s deputy, concluded the debate for the government.
“Some … have said that it does not go far enough; others have said that we should return to first principles and seek to build the whole system again …
“The Government seek to have a proposition on which can be built; one that is practical, achievable and makes a difference. The art of politics is about being able to make progress, and we think that the Bill will make a significant difference to people’s lives.”
In addressing criticisms from Stella Creasy, Marsha de Cordova and Ruth Cadbury, he said: “I gently encourage them to continue to engage with the Bill. They will see long and cheap extensions, easier enfranchisement, service charge transparency, easier redress, lease extensions, standard forms, annual reports and many, many other significant measures that will have salience for those living in flats.”
At 20:28:
https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/049c012d-0c14-4997-bfcb-c4c1a1c1ac69
Related posts:
Shadow housing brief passes from Mike Amesbury to Matthew Pennycook
Michael Gove: ‘squeeze every income stream that freeholders have’. Parliament debates leasehold reform Bill
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill: the most important part of the enfranchisement bit is missing
Our parliamentary briefing on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
Justin Madders delays Leasehold Reform Bill and calls on the Government to provide justice for leaseholders
Freeholders cried crocodile tears for old ladies and said the pensions sector would be destabilised, says former housing minister. (And commonhold is ready to roll …)
