Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Waugh Excerpts

Monday 23rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Apsana Begum (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab)]

19. What steps he plans to take to reform the leasehold system.

[Paul Waugh (Rochdale) (Lab/Co-op)]

20. What steps his Department is taking to reform the leasehold sector.

[Mr Lee Dillon (Newbury) (LD)]

22. What steps he is taking to support leaseholders.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Reed]

I commend the work of the Friends in High Places group, which my hon. Friend has been working with. We are now seeing improvements in the performance of the Building Safety Regulator, but she is right that unfair costs should not fall on leaseholders. If it would be helpful, I will happily arrange a meeting between her and the relevant Minister.

[Paul Waugh]

Far too many homeowners in Rochdale are subject to fleecehold, whereby they are fleeced for estate management company fees in return for little or no service or accountability. The Government are taking action to prevent future homeowners from falling into that trap, but will the Secretary of State set out how he plans to help current homeowners to avoid this rip-off charge?

[Steve Reed]

I know the Housing Minister is looking forward to meeting my hon. Friend and his constituents next week. HorNets have been strong and vocal campaigners for homeowners’ rights, and I welcome their engagement. The Government are committed to ending the injustice of fleecehold. Leaseholders should not be subject to the kind of legalised extortion that they have experienced in recent years, and the Government remain committed to bringing these practices to an end.