Business of the House

Abtisam Mohamed Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the work he does locally on flood resilience and for raising this matter. We wanted to have the debate next week in part because it is raised during business questions so often. I will, of course, make sure that the relevant Minister comes to this House or gives a statement to it when the report is published.

[Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) (Lab)]

Reforming the leasehold system is a priority for me in Parliament, because I have many leaseholders in Sheffield Central living in unaffordable homes and struggling to extend their lease or pay their monthly bills due to high, inconsistent and unfair charges. As an example, one of my leaseholders had a service charge of £1,800, which was increased to £6,000 as a result of building safety issues that were certainly not their fault, rendering their property unsellable. Will the Leader of the House share when the Government will bring forward secondary legislation to implement provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, to give leaseholders greater powers, rights and protections over their homes?

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise what I know will be a big issue in her constituency, as it is in my own. The plight of leaseholders over recent years—soaring service charges and many living in unsellable, unsafe homes—is shocking and unacceptable. That is why this Government will enact the previous Government’s Act at pace and finally bring an end to the feudal leasehold system with our forthcoming Bill.