Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Pakes Excerpts

Monday 14th July 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Andrew Pakes (Peterborough) (Lab)]

1. What steps she is taking to reform the leasehold system.

[Kevin Bonavia (Stevenage) (Lab)]

8. What steps she is taking to reform the leasehold system.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)]

May I start by sending my thoughts and prayers to everyone involved in yesterday’s incident at Southend airport?

We remain committed to giving leaseholders greater rights, powers and protections in respect of their homes, and bringing the feudal leasehold system to an end. We have made significant progress, implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and, this month, launching a consultation to strengthen leaseholder protections when it comes to charges and services. We are delivering, but we will go further; we will publish a draft leasehold and commonhold Bill later this year. This week, the High Court will hear challenges to some of the enfranchisement reforms in the 2024 Act; we will defend those challenges robustly, and will await the Court’s judgment.

[Andrew Pakes]

I have been contacted by more than 300 residents in Peterborough about problems relating to FirstPort’s leasehold and management service charges. They face unfair charges, a lack of transparency, bad communication and poor services. Residents in, for example, Hammonds Drive and Manor Drive are fed up with getting a second-class service. What is my right hon. Friend doing to help residents in places like Peterborough get the peace of mind and justice that they so deserve?

[Angela Rayner]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. Many Members from across the House have found that too many leaseholders suffer as a result of poor-quality services from managing agents. We are consulting on proposals to strengthen the regulation of managing agents, including a proposal to make minimum professional qualifications mandatory.