An Early Day Motion – a form of parliamentary petition – to reform leasehold was signed by numerous MPs in March 2005 including LKP patron Sir Peter Bottomley, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.
The EDM of nearly 15 years ago echoes almost everything that is currently being moved in leasehold reform. So, well done all the MPs who signed this.
The EDM, moved by former MP Austin Mitchell, called for:
That this House urges the Government to deal urgently with the grievances of freeholders and to swing the balance, which is still overwhelmingly weighted to the landlords, back to leaseholders; and suggests that this can be best achieved by abolishing the leasehold system and replacing it by commonhold for flat owners, and regulated sale to others, by scrapping marriage value for leaseholders buying freeholds, abolishing forfeiture and the threat of forfeiture, by setting up a regulator to control rogue landlords and managing agents, and by extending the role of the Housing Ombudsman to allow him to replace leasehold valuation tribunals, to assume responsibility for setting a fair valuation for leaseholders to buy their freehold and to regulate service charges in common flats.
Related posts:
After 60 consultations, Bottomley told ‘when parliamentary time allows’ for reforms promised three years ago
LKP and Bottomley at Number 10 to reverse flawed reform of recognised tenants’ associations
John McDonnell is a leaseholder, reveals Daily Mail in hatchet job article
Motion of no confidence in Roger Southam as LEASE chair
Jeremy Corbyn raises forfeiture case at prime minister’s questions
Housing data needs to help Bob Cratchit, not Ebenezer Scrooge
