Following today's announcement by Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities, Fiona said:
"I am very pleased that Sajid Javid MP Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities has today announced the Government will crack down on house sales on unfair Leasehold terms, something I asked him to do last April in the House of Commons on behalf of the many constituents affected here."
In April Fiona asked the following question in the House of Commons:
"I thank the Secretary of State for his strong expression of concern regarding unfair leasehold titles, which affect my Congleton constituency; will he confirm that he is addressing this issue for those who have already bought, and, for the future buyer, will he look at imposing requirements on the right-to-buy conditions so that such properties can be bought only under freehold or fair leasehold terms?"
Sajid Javid’s response:
"My hon. Friend has done a great deal of work in this area. She will know that it is a particular problem in the north-west, and I can confirm that we are looking at all the issues very carefully."
Fiona continued today:
"But a word of caution – which I’ve raised before – it’s one thing to protect future house buyers from the kind of abuse which escalating ground rents and excessive consent charges can impose – what also needs to be done is for the Government to look at how to help those who have already bought, where this is needed and appropriate."