New protections for leaseholders are a step forward

The Government has announced new protections for leaseholders, including plans to cap certain permission and administration fees and introduce independent regulation of property agents.

That is welcome news, particularly for people who have spent years dealing with unclear charges, poor communication and managing agents who seem to face little consequence when things go wrong.

Across Newbury and West Berkshire, residents have contacted me about exactly these problems. I have raised their concerns with ministers and through my work on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.

Earlier this year, I raised the case of a block of flats in Newbury where residents had been without a working lift for two years, despite continuing to pay management fees. One constituent told me of a family member who had to physically carry a relative downstairs.

That should not happen.

I have also been pushing for stronger regulation of property management agents through the Committee's scrutiny of the Government's draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. The Committee called for an independent regulator with powers to set standards, investigate poor practice and take action against agents that fail to meet them.

Today's announcement includes plans for property agents to be licensed and appropriately qualified, with the regulator able to remove licences where standards are not met. The Government is also proposing powers to cap certain permission and administration fees, following a consultation on what should be covered and at what level.

These are useful changes, but there is still work to do.

Leaseholders need clearer service charges and better ways to challenge unfair costs. We also need to make sure the wider reforms to leasehold and commonhold give homeowners genuine control over their homes.

The Committee's report made clear that the Government needs to go further and faster, including on unreasonable fees, commonhold and the regulation of property management agents.

I'll continue to raise the issues that residents in Newbury and West Berkshire bring to me, both in Parliament and through the Select Committee.

Today's announcement is a step forward. The job now is to make sure the reforms actually work for the people who have been waiting for them.