Oral Answers to Questions

Mohammad Yasin Excerpts

Monday 23rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to reform the leasehold sector.

[Mary Glindon (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) (Lab)]

2. What steps he is taking to reform service charges for leaseholders.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)]

On 27 January, we published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, marking the beginning of the end for the feudal leasehold system and supporting millions of families with the cost of living. We are reinvigorating commonhold and capping ground rent. We are analysing the responses to our wide-ranging consultation to drive up transparency of service charges and make it easier for leaseholders to challenge unreasonable costs. We will implement these measures as soon as possible.

[Mohammad Yasin]

With service charge inflation rising by 50% and leaseholders, freeholders and tenants even facing 80% increases, this is a growing scandal. Too many of my constituents are trapped under charges they cannot afford, paying for defects caused by poor construction and stuck with properties they cannot sell. Will the Secretary of State strengthen the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill to require fully itemised transparency, to penalise landlords who refuse disclosure and to create a faster, cheaper way to challenge excessive charges without a tribunal?

[Steve Reed]

The Government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. On 4 July last year, the Government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services, which included proposals to increase transparency of service charges and to scrap the presumption that leaseholders pay their landlord’s legal costs, thereby removing a significant barrier to challenging poor practice. The consultation closed on 26 September; we are analysing the responses and will publish our response shortly.