New Housing Minister Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire. has already been answered two written questions on leasehold housing and her answers could not be clearer.
On 30th January Southport MP, Damian Moore, asked:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to reform leaseholds and registered social landlords.
This includes introducing legislation to prohibit the development of new build leasehold houses, other than in exceptional circumstances; restricting ground rents in newly established leases of houses and flats to a peppercorn (zero financial value); and working with the Law Commission to support existing leaseholders – including making buying a freehold or extending a lease easier, faster, fairer and cheaper.
We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
We are also aiming to publish the Social Housing Green Paper in the spring. We have met a number of Registered Social Landlords and their tenants as part of this wide ranging review of the issues and concerns relating to social housing.
LKP welcomes the very clear statement from the Minister. We have moved a long way from the days of Minister Grant Shapps saw almost nothing wrong in the leasehold sector.
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(Galliard v NHBC v the Government v Cladding suppliers) v the Leaseholders
I truly welcome all cross party political support in changing the current legislation as freeholders have taken advantage of LEASEHOLDERS for far too long!
Although, i can appreciate that this may not be an easy process, a review & change needs to be implemented without further delay.
Although the Court of Appeal may have raised question over James Wyatts Pathenia works, I’m told that it is far more accurate than the current method used by the Governments current biased& outdated method of calculation, yet has involved years of analysis…so, I strongly urge the Government to work with James Wyatt to speed up the process of finding a solution, otherwise we could be waiting another 20 years!
Its quicker if the Chancellor introduces new taxes for ground rent income investment
(a) 45% tax rate on ground rent paid by leaseholders and capital gains tax of 45% on companies trading in sale of freehold titles. of residential block of flats and no free sdlt transfers of portfolios to other companies.
(b) withdraws the loan interest as an allowable expense against rental income for companies owning more that one freehold unless part of same estate address.
And the Housing Minister to change the market balance : :
(c) bring forward Justin Madders bill’ s for enfranchisement for blocks of leasehold flats priced at 10 x annual ground rent
(d) to withdraw the proceedings for forfeiture of long residential leases.
(e) to remove the 2 years waiting period as leaseholder before being allowed to purchase the freehold title of houses .
No need to wait for Law Commission to make recommendations because they will be tainted to comply with existing legislation.
Just think outside the box and no need to show favours to companies set up for exploitation of leaseholders.
If you remove the “tax props to profitability” for ground rent investment companies in UK , they will fade away into liquidation.
I was wondering where Heather Wheeler was dropped into the hot seat called ” Housing Minister ”
Here is the official appointment posts announced on 9th Jan 2018 :
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
Minister of State – Dominic Raab MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Jake Berry MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Heather Wheeler MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Rishi Sunak MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (jointly with the Wales Office)
On several websites including TheGuardian right up to the end of January 2018, it states the Housing Minister to be Domnic Raab
Can somebody explain the current position please.
We have two housing Ministers. Dominic Raab is housing supply and Heather Wheeler is leasehold commonhold PRS and homelessness
Heather Wheeler has been MP for 17 years for South Derbyshire .
Does anyone know how many leasehold properties in her constituency ?
Is she clued up about “Leasehold abuse”, Skimming of commissions from Buildings Insurance , Landlord & Tenant Act Offences under the local Housing Officer doesn’t work ?
Does she (or the Civil Servants advising her) understand the economic difference between Leasehold system and Commonhold . system ?.
Sajid Javid MP – was Secretary of State for Housing Communities & Local Government. All of a sudden we get Heather Wheeler MP for Housing and The Homeless.. Prior to this change, I wanted some information so wrote to my Local MP in North West Cumbria. She, at first, was waiting for a reply from MP Sajid Javid. I later got a letter from my MP and it included a letter from the new MP Heather Wheeler for Housing. The tone of the new Minister’s letter was not helpful and going by this, I very much doubt that Leasehold/Freehold problems, and the trap we were all led into, will be a priority for the Government.