Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government is taking steps to prevent (a) builders, (b) management companies appointed by builders and (c) the legal advisers to such individuals charging disproportionately large amounts of money for (i) notice fees and (ii) the provision of draft deeds of covenant to be entered into by purchasers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and freeholders and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service.

On 1 April, we published the response to our call for evidence on protecting consumers in the letting and managing agent market. Proposals include establishing a Working Group to consider how fees such as service charges should be presented to consumers and to explore the best means to challenge fees which are unjustified. We will also ask the Working Group to look into those fees and charges that go beyond service charges, but can impact both leaseholders and freeholders, and consider under what circumstances they are justified, and if they should be capped or banned. This includes the use of restrictive covenants, leasehold restrictions, administration charges and other charges placed on properties.