MP’s fears on lease scandal
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EAST Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury has said he fears the Government is trying to kick help for victims of the leaseholding scandal ‘into the long grass’.
The Weaver Vale MP has been a longstanding opponent of the practice, in which someone buys their property but not the land, leaving them trapped with spiralling ground rents or facing exorbitant buy-out costs further down the line.
A spokesman for Mr Amesbury’s office said many constituents have contacted him for help on the issue and he has previously raised it multiple times in Parliament, directly with ministers and also at public meetings with residents.
He said the Government conducted a consultation last year and pledged to tackle the practice, which previous Communities Secretary Sajid Javid branded ‘feudal’, but so far no firm commitments in terms of time and details have been forthcoming.
Last week in his role on the Housing, Communities And Local Government Committee, Mr Amesbury pressed Housing Secretary James Brokenshire to provide a specific date on when the Government plans to help those trapped.
Mr Brokeshire replied: “I’ve stated that we’ll be consulting over the summer about how we ban new leaseholds and restrict ground rents.”
He also said the Government was awaiting input from the Law Commission which would be available ‘later this year’.
Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Amesbury said: “There’s a lot of talk at the moment but few details, I do genuinely fear that the Government is trying to kick this into the long grass.
“I’ve been contacted by many constituents over this issue, unable to sell their homes and also unable to have that added security of knowing they can buy the land and not ● simply be expected to pay rents which are just going to go up and up.
“I’ll continue working with MPs from all parties to fight this deeply unjust practice.”
The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) was due to hold a peaceful demonstration at Westminster yesterday (Wednesday, July 18).
Katie Kendrick, of the National Leasehold Campaign, said moves to help future leaseholders should not mean those already trapped in existing arrangements are not forgotten.
She said: “Our homes should be our safe haven but instead for many it has turned into a living nightmare.
“Developers and freeholders should be held to account for this mess and we urge the Government to launch an inquiry.
“I appreciate retrospective action is difficult but not impossible and definitely should not be ruled out.”