Oral Answers to Questions

Phil Brickell Excerpts

Monday 3rd March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Pennycook]

We want to see far greater use of rural exception sites in particular, and I am more than happy to sit down with the hon. Gentleman—I think we have already planned to do so—to discuss short-term lets as well as this issue.

[Phil Brickell (Bolton West) (Lab)]

T7. I have recently received a number of complaints from my constituents about leasehold managing agents. These include unacceptably long delays for repairs—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. It is totally unfair when a Member is speaking to block the vision of the Chair.

[Phil Brickell]

These include unacceptably long delays for repairs and exorbitant costs at Greenmount Court in Smithills, despite spiralling fees, poor transparency and little to no communication from the agent. What steps is the Minister taking to deliver a fairer deal for existing leaseholders and to hold poorly performing managing agents to account?

[Matthew Pennycook]

We need to balance speed with care, because we will not make the mistake that the previous Government did and pass flawed legislation that requires us to fix it, therefore delaying reform for leaseholders. We will, as soon as possible, introduce the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which will allow us, as I said, to bring in transparency around service charges to allow leaseholders to better challenge unreasonable increases, and we intend to strengthen the regulation of managing agents.