Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect leaseholders from excessive quotations for lease renewals in (a) the North East and (b) England.

The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for leaseholders and freeholders in England, including the North East.

We want to make it easier for existing leaseholders to exercise their right to buy their freehold, or extend their lease, quickly, fairly and cheaply and for this right to be available as soon as possible. The Government is prioritising solutions for leaseholders of houses.

We are working with the Law Commission on introducing a cheaper and less complex statutory procedure for leaseholders to acquire a lease extension, or purchase the freehold, whilst ensuring that landlords obtain fair compensation.

The Law Commission has published its terms of reference at https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/leasehold-enfranchisement/

We will make further announcements in due course, and bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity.