Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England had made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on (a) restrictions on ground rents and (b) leasehold reform in the last year.

Since 2021, the Church Commissioners have routinely made formal representations to the Government on proposed reforms to leasehold and ground rents. These have included written submissions, correspondence with Ministers, participation in relevant Law Commission consultations and debates in the House of Lords.

Throughout the development of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA), the Church Commissioners have consistently highlighted the risk that the loss of marriage value would diminish the Charity's ability to support its beneficiaries, particularly those most in need.

The Church Commissioners await the Government's consultation on deferment rates to assess the full impact of LAFRA, noting that the proposals would result in a one off transfer of value from the Charity to individual leaseholders, in some cases amounting to significant sums.