Bbc
Tenants and certain tenants are currently paying service fees
The ministers described the plans to abolish the lease system in England and Wales.
The proposals to modify the law would prohibit the sale of new lease apartments.
As part of the lease system, third -party owners known as Freeholders have the building and a tenant buys the right to occupy an apartment inside for a fixed period.
The government said that it wanted to move to a way to build houses more in line with the rest of the world, known as Commonhold, where the owners had a share and had control of the buildings in which they lived.
But the free owners said that the lease was the “most effective way to manage large buildings of complex apartments”.
A white paper published Monday said that the sale of new bays would be prohibited and that Common Hold “invigorated” with a new legal framework.
A CommonHold lease and reform bill bill – including the detail of how the new system would work – will be published later this year, the government said.
New legislation would apply to England and Wales, where there are about five million lease houses.
The Minister of Housing, Matthew Pennycook, said that the reforms would end “unjust practices and unreasonable costs on the part of the owners”.
Tenants may have the impression of having no control over the costs of repairs and maintenance from the outside of their building.
About 1,000 people contacted the BBC after a BBC survey on service costs in lease blocks last year.
The Minister of Housing Matthew Pennycook plans to ban
Kasia Tarker bought an apartment from a room in Southall, west of London, in 2022.
Its service bill bills increased from around £ 65 per month in 2022 to more than £ 200 per month this year.
She said that she felt helpless and could not afford the accusations.
“I will have to try to sell the apartment or become homeless, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Firstport, which resumed the management of Kasia development in 2023, said that “increases in domains such as insurance and health and safety costs” were out of its will.
Kasia said that she would like more control over her service costs, but Common Hold proposals of the government were intended for new constructions, which would not help her in her current situation.
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Jean Hopkin, another lease which contacted the BBC, said that the service fees for his three -bedroom apartment in Sheffield had increased by 356% – from £ 106 per month to £ 483 in four years – and was indifferent due to high charges.
Jenny Baker in Southampton is also struggling to find buyers due to “unjustified” service costs which have reached £ 7,200 per year.
“The state of the building is simply terrible. The windows are not cleaned and there are black molds outside the building – what devil is I paying?
“I feel stuck – I can never get out. I feel like I have absolutely no control, and it makes me feel really anxious.”
Rendall & Rittner, which manages the buildings of Jean and Jenny, said that the company “did not take advantage or collected costs”.
According to Hamptons Immobilière Company, the amount of money tenants poses for the maintenance and community services of their building increased by 11% in England and in Wales between 2023 and 2024 to an average of £ 2,300.
Companies responsible for the management of buildings have declared that an increase in costs can be awarded to legitimate expenses, in particular energy prices and higher inflation rates, but many bays estimated that the costs were unfair.
As part of the current system, it is the owner who appoints a management agent. As part of a common system, residents would have more autonomy on what they pay and who they call for maintenance, said the government.
What is the difference between the lease and the town?
A lease property returns to the free will after a fixed period. A Common Hold property is owned, like a house in full property. Under the lease system, an owner sends a bill to residents for municipal costs. Residents will be able to hire and fire a management agent.
Natalie Chambers, director of the Residential Freehold Association (FRG), said that measures “should not be considered a compromise between the lease and Common Hold”.
“Millions of tenants across the country are perfectly satisfied with the mandate and we firmly think that the lease is the most effective way to manage a large complex building.”
It added that a common system would mean “residents would be faced with greater financial and legal responsibilities for the maintenance and management of blocks”.
“Important step”
The national lease campaign (NLC) said that it was “delighted” of the announcement and called today’s white paper is a significant step forward.
But the founder of NLC, Katie Kendrick, said that he was “essential” that those who are currently living in lease buildings were not forgotten.
She said: “Although focusing on the prevention of future lease abuses is crucial, it is equally vital to tackle the fate of existing leases currently linked by the inequitable lease system.
“Commonhold’s conversion mechanisms are essential to offer an escape route for trapped people.”
Mr. Pennycook said the government “would continue to implement reforms to help millions of billes that are currently suffering”.
Additional Jade Thompson reports
