Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Navendu Mishra(3Â weeks ago)
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Matthew Pennycook
I fully appreciate the hon. Lady’s concerns about inappropriate development around stations, such as Hersham and Claygate in her constituency. It is right that we seek to promote good development around well-connected stations, outside of settlements or on green-belt land, as those are some of the most sustainable locations for new homes in the country. However, the new NPPF makes clear that development proposals around such stations should not prejudice any proposals for long-term comprehensive development in the same location, and must also be of a scale that can be accommodated, taking into account existing or proposed availability of infrastructure.
Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab)
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform
Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Navendu Mishra(8Â months ago)
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Matthew Pennycook
I have a lot of respect for the hon. Gentleman and his service on the Select Committee. He has a lot of expertise in this area. I would say two things in response. First, we published two consultations on the home buying and selling process to try to modernise that process, and we are looking at some of those issues as part of that. Secondly, on service charges, one reason we had to hold quite a complicated and technical consultation on the implementation of the 2024 Act’s service charge provisions is precisely the complexity and the number of factors to deal with. We received incredibly useful feedback in response to that consultation, and that will shape how we take those measures forward. I want to be clear, though, that we are talking about how and not whether we take those measures forward; I want to see them brought forward at the earliest possible opportunity, because we absolutely know the impact that high and rising service charges are having on leaseholders across the country.
Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab)
People in Stockport and Greater Manchester have suffered for many years with poor service and unfair treatment by managing agents. Does the commitment by the Government to protect leaseholders mark a break from years of weak regulation by the coalition and then Conservative Governments?
Matthew Pennycook
We did see a considerable amount of deregulation under the coalition Government and their successors. I will give the previous Government credit, as I have done before, for bringing forward the 2024 Act; it does include some limited relief for leaseholders and some new rights and protections. However, we need to take it forward and finish the job, as I made clear in opposition that Labour would. As I said, we are consulting on changes to increase protections over service charges—incidentally, that same consultation included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best in his 2019 report, “Regulation of Property Agents”, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents. We are clear, though, that that consultation and the measures within it are not the final step in the regulation of managing agents, and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in Lord Best’s report.