STRATFORD MP Manuela Perteghella has called for an end to “fleecehold”.
At the party conference in Bournemouth, the Liberal Democrats introduced new policies to reform the leasehold system and strengthen homebuyer rights.
The raft of policies announced include establishing rights for homebuyers to ensure access to building repairs and strengthening accountability for building inspectors to prevent reckless sign-off.
Dr Perteghella has warned the current leasehold system has “woefully failed” to protect tenant rights as events in recent years such as the cladding scandal have highlighted.
Speaking in parliament this month she said: “Thousands of my constituents in Stratford-on-Avon now live in so-called fleecehold developments, often with a lack of transparency in how service charges are set and a lack of maintenance of public open spaces, including drainage infrastructure.
“Will the minister reassure my constituents that any leasehold reform will including tackling fleecehold and that the reforms will be applied retrospectively?”
Minister for housing and planning, Matthew Pennycook, explained in his response that the government would indeed “tackle the injustice of fleecehold” as part of changes to the leasehold system which will be brought in by the end of the parliament.
Following the debate, Dr Perteghella added: “Local residents in Stratford-on-Avon constituency pour their entire life savings into owning a leasehold yet are left to pay extortionate costs and, in some cases, will be living in unsafe buildings unable to access vital repairs.
“It is clear the current leasehold system has woefully failed to protect tenant rights. We cannot wait for more scandals to happen before we finally do something. Change is long overdue.
“That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to urgently get a grip on building safety standards, better regulate developers and put an end to fleecehold once and for all.”
